SMNI host admits source's error over Speaker's travel funds

Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz of SMNI has admitted in a House committee hearing that his source made a mistake as regards the travel expenses of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In a hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, Celiz was confronted about the information that Romualdez had a travel fund amounting to P1.8 billion.

"We are very much willing to admit that indeed the source was wrong. In this committee hearing, we are very appreciative of the guidance provided by the data," Celiz said.

He answered in the affrimative when asked if he was willing to recant and apologize to Congress.

"Wala pong problema sa akin personally 'yun because trabaho po namin na kilalanin ang pagkakamali kung may pagkakamali. Pero trabaho rin po namin ang magtanong," Celiz said.

(Personally, I don't have a problem with that because it is our job to admit a mistake if there is a mistake. But it is also our job to ask questions.)

A financial report from the Office of the Secretary-General showed that the House’s entire budget for travel expenses was only P39.6 million, of which P4 million was spent by the Speaker.

“If that will heal the wound, to a degree, the amount of insult that was forwarded to Congress, kung ganoon po ang epekto, wala pong problema, personally, trabaho po namin na kilalanin ang pagkakamali,” Celiz said. —NB, GMA Integrated News