Ethics complaint filed vs Rep. Wilbert Lee over alleged threat to 2 colleagues

Two lawmakers on Monday filed an ethics complaint against Agri party-list Representative Wilbert Lee over his alleged threats during the deliberations on the proposed P6.325-trillion budget for 2025.

The complaint was filed by Barangay Health Workers party-list Representative Nica Co and Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo, who said the incident happened on September 25, the last day of budget deliberations at the House of Representatives.

According to Quimbo, Lee approached her, pointed his finger at her, and said, "Magwawala ako kapag hindi niyo ako pinagsalita (I will make a scene if you will not allow me to speak)."

At that point, Lee had already finished his turn to field questions, and the last House member fielding questions was House Deputy Minority Leader Paul Daza, Quimbo said.

"Magkakampi po kami sa aming (we have the same) sense of duty, pero kailanman po (but ever since) it was never an excuse for me to be violent," she said.

'Tears of fear'

Quimbo said the way Lee approached her made her and Co so terrified that they shed tears.

"It was tears of fear. There are so many microphones in the plenary. Any member is free to raise a point of order at any point in time. Hindi po niya yun dapat ginagawa sa ganoong paraan (he shouldn't have done it that way). I have never received any form of apology," she said.

Lee's response

In response, Lee said it was never his intention to bully his colleagues.

"Hindi po natin kailanman magiging intensyon ang manakit o mambully. Iginagalang po natin ito bilang karapatan ng kapwa natin mambabatas," he said.

(Never did I intend to bully or hurt somebody. We respect their rights of our fellow lawmakers.)

Lee said his outburst was just due to his "impassioned advocacy to put on record the commitments" he secured from the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on lowering the out-of-pocket medical expenses of Filipinos.

Lee also cited that he was one of the lawmakers who persistently pushed for the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits, which the state-run corporation already implemented last February 14.

Quimbo and Co, however, said their ethics complaint is about ensuring that workspace remains safe for all.

Safe space

“What we are fighting for here is a safe workspace. Kongreso ito, House of the People. Kung magpahanap ka ng isang ligtas na lugar, siguro naman dapat dito yun,” Quimbo said.

(If you are going to look for a safe place, it should be here in Congress, at the House of Representatives.)

Co, for her part, said that Lee’s communications group even resorted to posting spliced videos showing Lee as a fighter for what is right and portraying Co and Quimbo as someone who is fearful of Lee over his crusade.

"The splicing of the videos, they made it appear that I don’t like his questions. They are twisting the words, saying sobrang galing niya. Na natatakot na kami because aggressive siya with his points. There was a change of storyline,” Co said.

Lee has filed his candidacy for senator in the 2025 elections. —KBK, GMA Integrated News