It is not my intention to intimidate Quimbo, Co.

FROM LEFT: Agri Partylist Rep. Wilbert Lee, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimb, and Rep. Angelica Natasha Co. | PHOTOS: Screenshot from Youtube/House of Representatives, Stella Quimbo Facebook Page and Natasha Co Office

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial aspirant and Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee clarified Monday that he never intended to “hurt or intimidate” Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, and BHW party-list representative Angelica Natasha Co when he came. was entrusted to them during budgetary deliberations.

Lee said this after Quimbo and Co filed a complaint against him before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

READ: Ethics complaints filed against Agri party-list representative Lee following budget negotiations brawl

According to Lee, he “respects” Quimbo and Co’s decision to file an ethics complaint against him.

“We are just waiting for official copies to be able to respond to this ethics complaint,” he added in Filipino.

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Quimbo and Co filed an ethics complaint against Lee because they felt threatened when Lee approached them aggressively while they were defending the Health Ministry’s draft budget during the September 25 plenary.

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During the session, Lee was seen grabbing the microphone of Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza, who was preparing to end the deliberations as no minority legislators wanted to ask about the DOH’s proposed budget.

READ: Tensions flare in the House as Lee takes the mic from Daza during budget negotiations

Co revealed on October 2 that they had urged the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate Lee’s actions because only the mic grab incident was seen, not his threats against her and Quimbo.

According to Co, Lee approached her and Quimbo in an “aggressive” manner, allegedly demanding that he be allowed to speak or else he would cause a commotion.

Co also said that Quimbo even hid behind the podium in fear that Lee would attack him.

On September 25, at 6:37 p.m., Quimbo, standing behind Co, was seen talking to someone. After two minutes, Co and the lawmakers, including Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher de Venecia, comforted Quimbo who appeared to be crying.

Co clarified that they were crying not because of the end of the deliberations, but because of Lee’s actions.

READ: House Ethics Committee Asked to Investigate Wilbert Lee’s Act During Budget Negotiations

However, according to Lee, he did not intend to disrespect the institution, adding that his action was motivated by the desire to obtain commitments from the DOH and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth ) concerning the reduction of medical costs borne by patients. expenses.

“We are steadfast in our goal to address the missing and costly health benefits we exposed last year, which neither the DOH nor PhilHealth acted on for over a decade,” he said in Filipino.

Earlier, Quimbo was asked if there was any chance for them to withdraw the ethics complaint against Lee. She said Lee has yet to apologize to her personally, even two weeks after the incident.

Instead, Lee wrote a letter to the House Appropriations Committee chairman and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, according to Quimbo.

In the letter, Lee apologized for his behavior during the discussions, saying it was simply “brought about by the intense passion and sense of duty to put on record the commitments we demand” from the DOH and PhilHealth.

After the incident last September 25, Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin introduced the motion to end deliberations on the DOH budget, asking Vice President Duke Frasco to rule on the motion.