A high-ranking member of the House of Representatives today urged Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy to apologize for red-tagging his colleagues, which the former described as inappropriate behavior.
House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante said that Congress will continue to defer the approval of PCOO’s budget until Badoy issues an “unconditional apology.”
“When we speak of the term unconditional apology, to be honest, it’s redundant no? An apology is not an apology if it comes with strings attached… The setting of conditions in our view just shows she’s insincere regarding her apology,” he said in an interview with cable channel ANC.
Read: Congress suspends approval of PCOO budget over Badoy’s dangerous ‘red-tagging’
Congress suspended its deliberations over the PCOO’s budget earlier this month because Badoy accused members of the Makabayan bloc of being communist supporters. Consequently, the group lambasted Badoy for her red-tagging and told her to resign from her post. Despite numerous events proving the contrary, Badoy has insisted that there was nothing wrong with the practice and said she would only leave her PCOO post if the Makabayan lawmakers denounce the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Abante said today that Badoy’s actions were unbecoming of a civil servant.
“A hollow apology is nothing but empty words. It’s not appropriate for any government official to say that to any sitting congressman. Remember that we are elected officials. To be able to accuse members of the House of being terrorists is an issue that involves the whole House and not just our colleagues from the Makabayan bloc,” he said.
