Akbayan rep takes oath in House

MANILA, Philippines— Prof. Walden Bello of the Freedom from Debt Coalition on Monday morning took his oath of office as the second representative of party-list Akbayan.

He took his oath before Secretary General Marilyn Yap.

Bello's first act is to endorse the impeachment complaint against the Ombudsman.

He also told reporters that one of his goals is to draw up an emergency economic program in light of the worldwide financial crunch.

He lamented that the administration seems to be in denial about the crisis.

Bello also said retired general Jovito Palparan should refrain from joining Congress so as not to sully its dignity, and added that the retired general deserves all the insults coming his way given his dismal human rights record.

Bello also said Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo's sister, should not join Congress, as well, because her entry would make the House a "family affair."

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