Reina Mercedes, Isabela Vice Mayor Harold Respicio said he is willing to face any administrative penalty, including suspension, following his controversial outburst during a Sangguniang Bayan session, but urged authorities to also look into alleged irregularities involving local officials.
In an interview during DZRH's Damdaming Bayan, Respicio said he would accept the consequences of his actions, stressing that he remains ready to comply with whatever directive is issued by authorities.
“Okay lang po imbestigahan niya ako, willing ako masuspinde. Edi mag-volunteer ako na masuspinde pero tingnan niya rin sana ’yon para fair kaming lahat,” Respicio said.
However, he maintained that the issues he raised during the heated session should not be ignored, particularly his allegations involving the use of funds from tobacco excise tax collections and projects intended for tobacco farmers.
Respicio also called on Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to look into alleged abuses involving local officials, including supposed irregularities in ordinances and supporting documents, alleged collusion and ghost projects.
The controversy began after a video of Respicio shouting at barangay officials and police personnel during a session went viral. Remulla subsequently called for the vice mayor to undergo a drug test and said the Department of the Interior and Local Government was studying the possible issuance of a show-cause order.
Respicio voluntarily underwent a drug test at St. Luke’s Medical Center–Quezon City on Wednesday, with the results coming back negative for methamphetamine, THC, cocaine, ecstasy, benzodiazepines, opiates, propoxyphene and tricyclic antidepressants.
He also asked Remulla to reimburse the ₱28,011 cost of the drug test, saying the screening was conducted after the secretary challenged him to undergo one.
Following the negative result, Remulla congratulated Respicio but continued to criticize his behavior during the earlier incident.
