We thank the Liberal Party members who elected to follow the party leadership’s recommendation to ally and form a strong Minority at the House of Representatives. We applaud Reps. Isagani Amatong (3rd District, Zamboanga Del Norte), Jose Christopher Belmonte (6th District, Quezon City), Gabriel Bordado Jr. (3rd District, Camarines Sur), Jocelyn Limkaichong (1st District, Negros Oriental), Stella Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina), and Edcel Lagman (1st District, Albay).
We have listened to the rest who chose to join the Majority, and while we disagree with their decision, we recognize that in the end it is a decision only they can make and we respect it.
As it is in the Senate, the Liberal Party, together with its allies, will hold the line and continue to serve our country and our people by serving as a necessary check and balance of government powers.
An independent Congress is the linchpin to the productive and progressive Chamber.
Congress cannot exist merely as a legislative mill, but the people’s vanguard against attempts to institutionalize repressive and detrimental laws.
An independent and thoughtful Congress can carefully scrutinize bills such as criminalizing young offenders, restoring death penalty and even imposing martial law, and examining treaties that give away as collateral our national patrimony. It also needs to investigate anomalies and controversies as part of its oversight function.
The Liberal Party will continue to be the voice of the regular Filipino man and woman and child. This voice will ensure the realization of our people’s right to effective and reasonable participation in government.
This is because dissent is the hero ingredient of democracy.
As J.F. Kennedy said: “Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed, and no republic can survive.”
Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga kasapi ng Partido Liberal na umayon sa mungkahi ng liderato ng partido na magsama-sama para bumuo ng isang malakas na Minorya sa House of Representatives. Nagpapasalamat tayo kina Isagani Amatong (3rd District, Zamboanga Del Norte), Jose Christopher Belmonte (6th District, Quezon City), Gabriel Bordado Jr. (3rd District, Camarines Sur), Jocelyn Limkaichong (1st District, Negros Oriental), Stella Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina), and Edcel Lagman (1st District, Albay).
Pinakinggan natin ang panig ng mga nagpasyang sumapi sa Mayorya, at kahit di tayo sang-ayon sa kanilang pasya, kinikilala natin na sa huli, sila pa rin ang magdedesisyon at iginagalang natin iyon.
Gaya sa Senado, ang Partido Liberal, kasama ng mga kaalyado nito, ay di patitinag at patuloy na maglilingkod sa ating bayan at sambayanan sa pagsisilbi bilang check and balance ng kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan.
Ang isang malayang Kongreso ay susi para sa isang produktibo at progresibong Kamara.
Ang Kongreso ay di lang isang pagawaan ng mga batas, kundi tagapagtanggol ng mamamayan laban sa mga tangkang magtatag ng mga mapanupil at nakapamiminsalang batas.
Masusing bubusisiin ng isang malaya at mapanuring Kongreso ang mga panukalang batas gaya ng pagturing na kriminal sa mga batang nagkakasala, pagbabalik ng parusang kamatayan at maging ang pagpapatupad ng batas-militar, at pati na ang pagsiyasat sa mga kasunduang pinamimigay ang ating mga teritoryo bilang collateral. Kailangan ding imbestigahan ng Kongreso ang mga anomalya at kontrobersya dahil kasama ito sa oversight function nito.
Patuloy na magiging boses ng karaniwang tao ang Partido Liberal. Ang boses na ito ay magseseguro sa pagsasakatuparan ng karapatan ng ating mamamayan para sa epektibo at makatuwirang pakikilahok sa pamamahala.
Dahil ang pagpuna ay mahalagang sangkap ng demokrasya.
Gaya ng sinabi ni J.F. Kennedy: “Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed, and no republic can survive.” (“Kung walang debate at walang pagpuna, walang administrasyon at walang bansa na magtatagumpay, at walang republikang mabubuhay.”)