Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre on Monday said he welcomes Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin’s recent remark telling Congress to “clean your house first,” stressing that lawmakers should not be exempt from accountability in handling public funds.
“I welcome the challenge of ES Bersamin, sige, linisin natin ang Kamara de Representantes. But we also exact the same amount. And I think that's where the party leaders are coming from. We also exact the same level of accountability from everyone else,” Acidre said in an exclusive interview on DZRH’s Isyung Pambayan.
The House Committee on Higher Technical Education chairperson emphasized that corruption should not be seen as confined to one branch of government.
“Hindi naman pwedeng ang korupsyon nasa isang sektor lang o isang korupsyon ay nasa isang sitwasyon lang. Ito po ay continuing proseso ng accountability… Hindi ito usaping politika sa kanila. Ito ay isang matter of public accountability, isang matter of public service.,” he added.
Not Malacañang vs. Congress
Amid speculation that Bersamin’s remark signals tension between the Palace and the House of Representatives, Acidre downplayed the issue.
“It's hard to frame it as ES Bersamin versus Congress. I think it's about time we hold everybody accountable. Kahit sino man siguro na may hawak ng pera ng bayan, dapat may pananagutan kung paano ito ginagamit. Anumang branch ng government yan, I think that should not excuse anyone,” he explained.
He added that the participation of civil society groups in budget deliberations for the first time is a positive step toward transparency.
Focus on Solutions
Acidre urged both government officials and the public to move beyond political noise and push for systemic reforms.
“The outrage does not lead to anger alone. It should not then vindicate someone or to accuse someone, but to really lead to systemic reforms,” he said.
Despite all this, Acidre clears the responsibility of Congress over the issues arising amid the corruption happening in the government.
“Ang responsibility ng Kamara ay siguraduhin muna na magkaroon ng solusyon kung ano man ang problema na nandyan,” he said.
