In one of the latest proofs why the House of Representatives is superior to the Philippine Senate, a congressman whose son is a Cabinet member claims that some members of the House contingent in the Commission on Appointments are asking for money or projects in exchange for confirmation of presidential appointment.

This is a nice game of “Who is it”? First let us name the members of the House contingent to the CA:

* Prospero Pichay Jr. of Surigao del Sur
* Jesus Jurdin Romualdo of Camiguin
* Eduardo Veloso of Leyte
* Marcelino Libanan of Eastern Samar (now immigration commissioner)
* Prospero Amatong of Compostela Valley
* Manuel Ortega of La Union
* Rafael Nantes of Quezon
* Antonino Roman of Bataan
* Aurelio Umali of Nueva Ecija
* Victor Sumulong of Antipolo City
* Harlin Habayon of Northern Samar
* Rolex Suplico of Iloilo.

The congressman who blew the whistle, Herminio Teves of Negros Oriental gave the following clues:

* Some congressmen who demanded money from Cabinet members and generals ran in the May 14 elections but lost
* Others were third-term House members like him who were not qualified to seek re-election but who fielded their wives in their districts to be their successors (Unfortunately, their wives lost, he said.)
* This Inquirer report has more clues:

Earlier in a TV interview over ANC, Teves was asked if one of the members of the so-called Big Five had run for the Senate. He replied in the affirmative.

Asked if the congressman had lost, he said: “Use your imagination.”

Two members of the House named a fellow congressman involved in the supposed extortion activities in the CA.

According to the two lawmakers—a man from the opposition and a woman from the administration—their colleague ran a highly expensive campaign but lost in the midterm elections.

Oh boy this is fun. View the lists here and here for confirmation.

* Romualdo is a third-termer; Pedro Romualdo is replacing him.
* Veloso is a third-termer; I’m not sure if any of his relatives run, but no Veloso is in the list of winners for Leyte.
* Libanan is a third-termer; his wife lost in the elections.
* Amatong is a third-termer; Rommel Amatong is replacing him.
* Ortega is a third-termer; Victor Ortega is replacing him.
* Nantes is a third-termer; I’m not sure if any of his relatives run, but no Nantes is in the list of winners for Quezon.
* Roman is a third-termer; I’m not sure if Herminia Batista-Roman is his wife.
* Umali ran as governor; I’m not sure if Czarina Umali is his wife or daughter.
* Sumulong either lost or is a third-termer; Robbie Puno is replacing him.
* Suplico is a third-termer; his wife lost the congressional race to Raul Gonzalez Jr.
* Pichay ran for the Senate and lost.

Pichay issues a denial. Suplico calls on Teves to name names. There are two congressmen who ran for senator under Team Unity: Pichay and Migs Zubiri.

Sirit?