Minority senators face arrest over absences

Senators belonging to the minority bloc face arrest, if their boycott of the session continues on Monday, lawmakers said Thursday.

There was no session Thursday, as sessions are normally held Mondays to Wednesdays.

When the minority senators failed to show up Wednesday, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago moved for their arrest, adding jokingly that Sen. Gregorio Honasan head the arresting team.

But in a more serious note, Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada pointed out that the Senate rules giving the presiding officer the power to order the arrest of truant senators apply only when there is no quorum.

Thirteen senators attended Wednesday’s session, enough to enable the Senate to proceed with their business of the day. Those present were Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., Senate Majority Leader Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Senators Santiago, Honasan, Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Richard Gordon, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Alan Peter Cayetano, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Lito Lapid and Joker Arroyo.

The absence of the senators from the minority bloc prevented any substantial movement of priority measures, such as those amending the Fire Code and passing a measure on renewable energy. Villar earlier pushed for the approval of the Fire Code, which had been pending for several years.

Zubiri said the individual amendments to the renewable energy bill, which he was sponsoring, were already in the late stages.

Enrile and Zubiri said the absence of the minority senators had derailed the timetable for important pieces of legislation.

Santiago had proposed that the majority take advantage of the absence of the minority by approving all administration measures.

Arroyo and Escudero said they should adjourn even if there was quorum because at least one minority senator should be present in sessions.

But the senators of the majority bloc opposed the move to adjourn. In the end, Villar ruled that while the Senate should continue with its business, it should not approve any bill.

The Senate then proceeded to the individual amendments to the renewable energy bill but stopped short of passing them on second reading.

Santiago also moved for the insertion of the Senate records of her sponsorship speeches on the concurrence of the Senate on the ratification of three Philippine treaties on mutual legal assistance with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and with Spain and South Korea.

The absence of the minority enabled the Senate to conduct its business without the tumult that had characterized the two previous sessions when they were discussing the alleged “double entry” on the C-5 road extension project.

Cayetano said he did not believe that the absence of the minority on Wednesday was merely coincidental. “They were absent because they wanted to prolong this issue [double entry] until next week.”

Bong on No criminal act in budget entries

Two Senate committees will investigate the alleged budget irregularities.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, chairman of the committee on finance, said he only wanted to "satisfy the public and the opposition."

"The impression is that there is something illegal, sinister, malicious and covetous in all of these things. We have to clarify that," he told reporters.

In his privilege speech on Monday, Mr. Lacson directly implicated Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr. in what he called "road to nowhere" mess.

But this early, Mr. Enrile noted nothing was irregular about the insertions. "There are no illegal insertions. In fact, you cannot spend any money in the budget unless you comply with the procurement law on public bidding," he told reporters in a chance interview.

Senator Ramon B. Revilla, Jr., chairman of the committee on public works, told BusinessWorld, "I welcome [the investigation] since we have to ferret out the truth cannot speculate at the moment" if there was any irregularity.

In a related development, Senator Joker P. Arroyo said Mr. Lacson allegations were unfounded and that he will oppose any investigation.

"If we investigate, we admit that we engaged in corruption," he said in a briefing, adding Mr. Lacson "twisted" the facts and "obscured the whole thing."

"Is he [Mr. Lacson] saying that [Congress] is wrong and he is the only one right? The sanctity of the proceedings in the Senate is at stake here. This is serious because this is the first time in the history of the Senate that a member challenged the Senate," Mr. Arroyo said in response to Mr. Lacson’s accusations that corruption was "committed right in this hall [Senate]."

Revilla to Lacson: 2 bridge projects in Cavite, not 1

MANILA, Philippines – The two P50-million budget insertions that Sen. Panfilo Lacson insists are anomalous for are not double entries for just one project. They're actually for two projects – two different bridges with the same name, according to Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.

Revilla pushed for the insertions, according to a report by Sandra Aguinaldo that was aired on Tuesday over 24 Oras, GMA Network's early evening newscast.

Revilla said the insertions were requested by Cavite Rep. Crispin Remulla.

The bridges are both named Aguinaldo – one is on Governor's Drive and the other is in Aguinaldo town – and the budget for each is P50 million.

On Monday, Lacson presented in his privilege speech more alleged double entries in 2008 National Budget.

Lacson noted a P50-million outlay for Aguinaldo Bridge in Cavite province, which was included under the widening of Governor’s Drive (Carmona-Dasmariñas-Trece Martires City Road, including bridges).

It appeared in a different entry under the same heading for the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highway — again for the repair and rehabilitation of Aguinaldo Bridge in Cavite.

Revilla stressed that there was nothing anomalous in his insertions, adding that he had already explained it to Lacson.

"May investigation tayo. Malalaman natin ang katotohan dito, and according to him (Lacson) wala naman daw problema doon [We have an investigation. We will know the truth about this, and according to Lacson, he has no problem with that.]," Revilla said.

For his part, Lacson said he was yet to confirm the explanations of Revilla.

"Papano pag-release ng pondo non? Baka magkaroon ng double entry din ang labas [How would the funds for that be released. It might still end up having a double entry.]," Lacson said.

But Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, chair of Senate Committee on Finance, said Lacson’s claim of double release of funds for the same project is impossible.

"Yung budget is only an authorization. You conduct a public bidding to fund the project and implement it. It is impossible to duplicate a public bidding for the same project," Enrile said.

And despite their bickering, the senators were one in approving the scrutiny of the national budget to ensure that public funds are being spent wisely.

Longest, biggest ‘pastillas’ in Guinness

City of Malolos, Philippines: It’s a long, sweet journey to the Guinness World Book of Records.

Bulacan’s “pastillas” candy made of fresh carabao milk and sugar officially made its bid to the Guinness on Friday. The candy produced by the province weighed 4,000 kilos and measured 200 meters in length and 5 inches in diameter.

Ronaldo Tiotuico, regional director of the Department of Tourism, said Bulacan’s pastillas is the third product from Central Luzon to bid for a world record. Pampanga’s “sisig” and the biggest lantern of the City of San Fernando are among the local products that have made it to the Guinness.

It took 12,800 liters of fresh carabao milk and 1,600 kilos of white sugar to make the giant “pastillas,” part of Tatak Bulakenyo product now displayed at the provincial capitol grounds.

When cut into thumb-size pieces, it would total 500,000. The Bulacan sweet surpassed its target of 200 meters in length.

About 200 residents from the “pastillas”-producing towns of San Miguel and San Ildefonso cooked the giant “pastillas.”

Gov. Joselito Mendoza and Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. led the tasting of the “pastillas,” which has become a favorite “pasalubong” fare of residents and visitors.

Senator Revilla files bill requiring the use of helmets for bikers

Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on Monday filed the Mandatory Helmet Bill in his bid to lessen street accidents involving persons who continuously disregard the importance of helmets.

During a radio interview, Revilla said he filed the bill to prevent the further ballooning of motorcycle-related accidents and ensure that motorcycle riders will be obliged to wear helmets.

"With this (bill) masisiguro natin na isusuot nila ang helmet. Ang dami ng na aaksidente at namamatay dahil sa hindi nila pagsuot ng helmet," Revill said.

According to Revilla, the bill is very timely because many Filipinos are starting to purchase motorbikes due to the hike of petroleum prices in the world market.

Revilla said, while people are thinking of ways to save money, they should prioritize their safety.

Under the Mandatory Helmet Bill, kids below seven years old will be prohibited to ride motorbikes.

He added that he also wants to ban pregnant women from riding two-wheeled vehicles.

Revilla said, at present, our country does not have any legislation promoting the stricter implementation of helmets use. Due to this, he has been conducting rounds in the different parts of the country to promote the bill.

"Actually nag-iikot na tayo sa iba't ibang parte ng bansa. We're really campaigning for this dahil talagang hinihiling ng mga bikers associations tulad Motor Cycle Federation of the Philippines na tulungan sila with this campaign pa ma-isalba ‘yung mga matitigas ang ulo," Revilla said.

He also appealed to the police to set a good example by showing bike riders that they are adhering to the policy.

“Pati kapulisan natin... dapat mag-set ng good example mahiya naman kayo. Dapat ipakita niyo na tayo mismong nag-papatupad ng batas ay maging magandang ehemplo," Revilla said.

Revilla said, under the bill, the license of the offenders will be confiscated and they will be subject to pay the fines which would range from P2,000 to P20,000.

Revilla said the bill is now under the Senate Committee on Public Services of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile.

Go slow on journalists - Revilla

Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. has called on the government to go slow on journalists as he pushed for decriminalization of libel.

Revilla, chairman of the Senate committee on public information, noted the growing apprehension among mediamen this administration "slowly" curtails press freedom in the country.

"There are reports that are really damaging and not adhering to the principles of responsible journalism. But that’s not enough reason to suppress the press,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

The "apparent series of arrest of journalists,” Revilla said, justified the need to decriminalize libel to address the "dilemma" of journalists, who are threatened with imprisonment for doing their job.

"As a chairman of the Senate committee on public information and mass media, I am pushing in the Senate the decriminalization of libel, alongside with the proposed measures to guarantee an individual's right to reply," he said.

"But right now, the government should take it easy with journalists, who have been convicted or accused of libel," Revilla added.

Malaya publisher's arrest highlights need to decriminalize libel - solon

The arrest of Malaya newspaper publisher Amado “Jake” Macasaet has once again justified the need to decriminalize libel, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr said Thursday.

In a statement, Revilla said libel’s decriminalization will "address the dilemma of journalists who are threatened with imprisonment for doing their job as members of the Fourth Estate."

Revilla, chairman of the Senate committee on public information and mass media, said he is pushing for the decriminalization of libel alongside the proposed measures to guarantee an individual's right to reply.

"But right now, the government should take it easy with journalists who have been convicted or accused of libel," he said.

Macasaet was arrested Thursday inside the Malaya office in Port Area, Manila in connection with a libel suit filed by former Rizal governor Casimiro Ynares Jr nine years ago. He posted bail later for his temporary liberty.

The case stemmed from a series of articles written by Macasaet regarding two cockfighting groups, one of which allegedly headed by Ynares, in March and April of 1999 in Malaya and its Filipino-language sister publication Abante.

Revilla said defamatory and unfair reports against certain individuals are not enough reasons to curtail the press freedom.

He described Macasaet’s arrest, as well as that of Tribune newspaper publisher Niñez Cacho-Olivarez early this year, as a calculated move to curtail press freedom in the country.