SAGIP Partylist Representative Rodante Marcoleta has been removed from five powerful committees in the House of Representatives, as announced before the session adjourned yesterday.
House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo City Representative Jam Baronda filed the motion for Marcoleta’s replacement in the Commission on Appointments (CA) and the committees on energy, justice, public accounts, and constitutional amendments.
Marcoleta was earlier stripped of his position as vice chairman of the Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability.
To fill the vacancy, the House elected Manila Teachers Partylist Representative Virgilio Lacson as Marcoleta’s replacement.
“Mr. Speaker, on the part of the majority, I move to nominate and elect to the Commission on Appointments, to the Committee on Energy, to the Committee on Justice, to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Representative Virgilio Lacson in place of Rep. Rodante Marcoleta,” said Baronda.
House Deputy Speaker and Cebu 5th District Representative Duke Frasco, who presided over the session, asked, “Is there any objection?” Hearing none, the motion was swiftly approved.
It is worth noting that Marcoleta had previously defended Vice President Sara Duterte during a congressional inquiry into questionable fund usage within the Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President in 2022.