By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

On Monday, House Speaker Martin Romualdez delivered a rallying cry against profiteers, smugglers, and hoarders, vowing that Congress would take aggressive steps to stabilize food prices and ensure affordable basic goods for Filipinos. 

During a lunch with the House media, the leader of the 307-strong chamber declared food security as a top priority and pledged that the House of Representatives would uphold its duty to protect the people, emphasizing the government’s efforts to address high food prices and the need to investigate why costs remain elevated despite sufficient supply. 

“The government is doing everything. Alam mo naman, kaka-cut lang natin ng taripa para sa mga imported rice, from 35 to 15 percent. Ang dami-daming supply na naiimbak diyan pero bakit mataas pa rin ’yong presyo?” Speaker Romualdez pointed out.

“Sa mga profiteers dyan, ’yong mga unscrupulous traders and wholesalers, we are going after you. The House will go after you. We will not allow this abuse to happen, lalo na [ngayong] panahon ng Pasko,” the Leyte solon declared, issuing a direct warning to profiteers and price manipulators.

He noted that the House Quinta-Comm, also known as the Murang Pagkain Super Committee, as a key force in the fight against smuggling, price manipulation, and rising hunger, is now working closely with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to conduct inspections of warehouses suspected of hoarding rice and other staples.

This “super committee” brings together five House committees—Ways and Means, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Food, Social Services, and Food Security—to address weaknesses in government programs and ensure accountability for market abuses.

Quad-Comm commended for shedding light on systemic irregularities

Romualdez also praised the work of the Quad-Comm, describing it as the legislature’s “truth commission” tasked with exposing corruption and systemic irregularities. 

“Parang nagiging ‘Truth Commission’ na ngayon ’yong Quad[-Comm] eh. Nagiging ‘Truth Commission’ na ngayon ’yong mga efforts natin dito sa Congress. Because this is the place, itong venue natin, ’yong forum where we can come out and ferret out the truth,” he said.

The Quad-Comm—comprised of the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts—has focused its investigations on issues such as illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the illicit drug trade, land-grabbing by foreign nationals, and alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs.

Likewise, the Leyte lawmaker underscored the importance of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, commending its ongoing investigations into the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education under Vice President Sara Duterte.

While food security remains the House’s top priority, Romualdez revealed plans to expand its focus to other critical concerns such as energy costs and water supply. 

“We will not stop there. Mind you, once we solve that, or at least [when] we get the process going in bringing down the price of basic food commodities, we will even look at other basic needs of the people like power or energy cost. We will look at water. We will look at the very basic needs of the people because we are the House of the People,” he said.

“Young Guns” praised for their role in information dissemination

Meanwhile, Romualdez thanked the House media for their critical role in informing the public and ensuring legislative transparency. 

He also lauded the “Young Guns,” a group of lawmakers including Reps. Zia Alonto Adiong, Rodge Gutierrez, Mika Suansing, and Jude Acidre, for their active engagement with the media.

“Sila ang pambatò natin talaga para magbibigay sila ng mga mensahe, mga initiatives, at mga pahayag to our media. Sila ang parang talking heads natin. We have so many of them, so active, so motivated, brilliant,” the Leyte solon said.

“Magaling sila, very articulate at masipag talaga kasi kahit kailan, maski walang session, talaga nando’n para sa ating mga media and for all the information and all the news gathering,” he added further.

In conclusion, the House Speaker encouraged public servants to reflect on their mission during the holiday season, urging them to remain steadfast in serving the people. (with report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News)

-iro