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Advocates Philippines
House Leader Hits Back At Pinol's Debt Jabs: 'Your Boss Duterte Left Us With The Real Mess'
Photo credit: Congress PH
It didn’t take long for a House leader to fire back after former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol threw shade at the Marcos administration over the country’s ballooning debt.
Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun, who chairs the House Special Committee on Bases Conversion, didn’t mince words as he slammed Piñol’s comments as “brazen hypocrisy” and a “desperate ploy” for political revival.
“Let’s not twist the facts. The debt didn’t just magically appear under Marcos Jr.,” Khonghun said. “It was under your boss, former President Rodrigo Duterte, that our national debt skyrocketed by P7.2 trillion in just six years. That’s more than what all the presidents from Quezon to PNoy combined accumulated over 89 years.”
For context, the Philippines’ current debt sits at P16.63 trillion.
Piñol recently criticized the Marcos administration during a campaign event in North Cotabato, where he’s eyeing a comeback as governor. But for Khonghun, Piñol is hardly in a position to talk.
“He wants to talk about governance? This is the same guy who oversaw rice crises, floated the idea of legalizing smuggling, mishandled a bird flu outbreak, and got dragged into the Recto Bank mess,” Khonghun pointed out. “And now he’s lecturing us? Give me a break.”
Khonghun also emphasized that many of the loans contracted during the Duterte years were pushed through under the cover of pandemic response—with little to no oversight from Congress.
“We’re the ones now dealing with the consequences of those loans,” he said. “That’s why we’re pushing for reforms to ensure future governments can’t just borrow recklessly without proper scrutiny.”
He also backed a proposal from Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin to investigate where the P7.2 trillion in pandemic-era loans actually went—and if they truly benefited ordinary Filipinos.
“The truth is simple,” Khonghun said. “The Marcos government is now footing the bill for the excesses of the past. And the people who helped rack up the debt are now acting holier-than-thou. It’s shameless.”
And his parting shot? “Before pointing fingers, look in the mirror. You resigned in disgrace. You owe the people answers—not lectures.”
Looks like the battle over who really broke the bank is just heating up.
Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun, who chairs the House Special Committee on Bases Conversion, didn’t mince words as he slammed Piñol’s comments as “brazen hypocrisy” and a “desperate ploy” for political revival.
“Let’s not twist the facts. The debt didn’t just magically appear under Marcos Jr.,” Khonghun said. “It was under your boss, former President Rodrigo Duterte, that our national debt skyrocketed by P7.2 trillion in just six years. That’s more than what all the presidents from Quezon to PNoy combined accumulated over 89 years.”
For context, the Philippines’ current debt sits at P16.63 trillion.
Piñol recently criticized the Marcos administration during a campaign event in North Cotabato, where he’s eyeing a comeback as governor. But for Khonghun, Piñol is hardly in a position to talk.
“He wants to talk about governance? This is the same guy who oversaw rice crises, floated the idea of legalizing smuggling, mishandled a bird flu outbreak, and got dragged into the Recto Bank mess,” Khonghun pointed out. “And now he’s lecturing us? Give me a break.”
Khonghun also emphasized that many of the loans contracted during the Duterte years were pushed through under the cover of pandemic response—with little to no oversight from Congress.
“We’re the ones now dealing with the consequences of those loans,” he said. “That’s why we’re pushing for reforms to ensure future governments can’t just borrow recklessly without proper scrutiny.”
He also backed a proposal from Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin to investigate where the P7.2 trillion in pandemic-era loans actually went—and if they truly benefited ordinary Filipinos.
“The truth is simple,” Khonghun said. “The Marcos government is now footing the bill for the excesses of the past. And the people who helped rack up the debt are now acting holier-than-thou. It’s shameless.”
And his parting shot? “Before pointing fingers, look in the mirror. You resigned in disgrace. You owe the people answers—not lectures.”
Looks like the battle over who really broke the bank is just heating up.
Apr 15, 2025
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