MANILA – BHW party-list Representative Angelica Natasha Co urged the House Ethics Committee to formally investigate Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee’s “unparliamentary conduct” during the plenary debate on the Department of Health’s (DOH) proposed PHP297.6-billion budget for 2025.
In a statement on Wednesday, Co said Lee’s actions were a direct attack not only to her as the agency’s budget sponsor, but also to the entire House Committee on Appropriations.
The incident occurred during the September 25 deliberation on the DOH budget when Lee interrupted Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza, who was moving to terminate the interpellation period, by grabbing the microphone from him.
Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin quickly moved to close the debate, which was subsequently approved by Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco, prompting criticism from Lee.
“I deplore his disrespect of the House and its rules. He disrespected and attacked this Representation and the whole Committee on Appropriations,” Co said.
She further requested the House leadership to ensure Lee’s attendance in future Ethics Committee hearings and called for disciplinary measures, including the potential cancellation of his foreign travel authority.
“Any other disciplinary measures, I leave to the wisdom of the Committee on Rules, the Minority Caucus, and the Ethics Committee. I reject any efforts of anyone acting on behalf of Congressman Wilbert Lee to make amends,” Co said.
Co accused Lee of grandstanding to allegedly boost his popularity in his bid for a Senate seat in the upcoming 2025 elections.
Lee, for his part, said the focus should be on the positive results of scrutinizing the DOH budget instead of the microphone scuffle.
“We explained in the plenary why we wanted to speak before the deliberation ended. We want to share our achievements in additional health services, not just to inform Congress and the Filipino people but also to jointly monitor its implementation,” Lee said in Filipino.
Lee cited the commitment signed by DOH Secretary and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Board chair Ted Herbosa and PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. to lower the out-of-pocket hospital expenses of Filipinos.
The agreement, Lee said, includes the following: implementation of another round of benefits package enhancement, across-the-board, by 50 percent effective November 2024; the inclusion of diagnostic tests such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, Computed Tomography (CT) scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as part of outpatient services not later than December 31, 2024; coverage of at least 80 percent of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and procedures for heart diseases not later than December 31, 2024; and coverage of pediatrics and adult prescription glasses by November 2024. (PNA)