Legislation
Drilon: Manifestation regarding GOCC allowances
Sep 1st
(Addressing the Honorable Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President)
Mr. President, as the chamber is aware, the committee on finance has been conducting hearings on the compensation of GOCCs and the reason why I’m standing up today is to urgently request the President to suspend the allowances of the board of directors of the GOCCs because as we talk now, as we are talking today, these abuses continue unabated and unless the President immediately orders the suspension of these obscene allowances, public interest will continue to suffer. I am therefore proposing Mr. President that the Senate passes a resolution, subject to style, More >
Celebrating Generations of Filipino Liberal Struggle for Freedom and Democracy: The Life and Times of Jovito R. Salonga
Jul 1st
(A TRIBUTE TO A FILIPINO LIBERAL: Delivered on June 28, 2010 at the Dusit Hotel, Makati during at tribute to Former Senate President and Liberal Party leader Jovito Salonga given by the Liberals in the Philippines on the occasion of his 90th birthday)
I would like to extend my warm welcome to all of you most especially to our international visitors from the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, the Liberal International and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
You come here during a most historic occasion. After more than a half a century, we will be inaugurating, two days from now, the next More >
Overhaul party-list system
Apr 18th
Once voted into office, I will make it my priority to amend and strengthen the law governing the party-list system. People have the right to representation, and true representation can only be achieved when the elected representative of every party-list system is the perfect personification of that party-list, not someone who clearly has a hold on power.
As the Supreme Court has stated, it is not enough for a party-list nominee-candidate to claim representation of the marginalized and underrepresented, because representation is easy to claim and to feign.
The party-list organization or party must factually and truly represent the marginalized and More >
GMA cannot appoint next Sandiganbayan chief
Apr 6th
We, at the Liberal Party, maintain that the constitutional ban against midnight appointments is in effect and President Arroyo is barred from appointing the replacement of Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Norberto Geraldez who passed away due to a lingering illness last Sunday.
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) should not submit to Malacanang a list of nominees for the replacement of Geraldez since the ban is still in effect despite the Supreme Court’s March 17 ruling that the President can appoint the successor of Chief Justice Reynato Puno who retires on May 17.
In that SC decision, while the High Tribunal ruled that More >
To the Presidentiables: Bare your stand on SC midnight appointment controversy
Jan 18th
I challenge our presidential candidates to bare their stand on the raging legal controversy on whether outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can still appoint the next Chief Justice despite a constitutional prohibition against presidential midnight appointments.
Only LP Presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has taken a firm stand on the controversy while most of the other presidential aspirants have opted to consistently play on the safe side on the matter.
This matter on whether we should allow the President to circumvent the constitutional ban against midnight appointments for her to be able to fiddle with the independence of the Supreme Court is More >
I don’t agree with Senator Enrile’s position on next SC chief appointment
Jan 18th
I disagree with the position taken by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that President Arroyo can bypass the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) in appointing the successor of outgoing Chief Justice Reynato Puno.
The legal position taken Enrile, which appears to have been adopted by Malacanang, on the appointment of a Chief Justice without a JBC nomination, is a clear violation of the Constitution.
Article VIII, Section 4 (1) of the 1987 Constitution provides that the Supreme Court is composed of a Chief Justice and 14 associate justices. Thus, the members of the High Court are one Chief justice and 14 associate More >
Can GMA appoint the next Supreme Court Chief Justice?
Jan 10th
The forthcoming retirement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno and President Arroyo’s impending exit from power present an interesting legal question that will have an impact not only on our Supreme Court, but on our country’s future as well.
It will also provide the answers to persistent questions whether the Arroyo administration will leave behind a Supreme Court that will continue to enjoy a perception of judicial independence.
Chief Justice Puno retires in four months, on May 17, 2010, after the country had elected a new President, and 45 days before the constitutionally mandated transfer of presidential power from President Arroyo to her More >
SC should rule on constitutionality of Maguindanao martial law despite early lifting
Dec 15th
We urge the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of Proclamation 1959 even after President Arroyo lifted martial law in Maguindanao Saturday night.
The Supreme Court must make decision on the matter for the future guidance of the nation. Malacanang may not admit it, but a major consideration in the lifting was the apparent inability of government to defend its legality.
Despite the lifting of martial law, the Supreme Court should still rule on the petition filed before the high court questioning its legality. With the lifting of Proclamation 1959, we expect government to argue that the petitions should be dismissed More >
GMA is undermining the judiciary
Jul 29th
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has again “attempted to undermine the independence of the judiciary” when she rejected the six nominees submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) fill up the two vacancies in the Supreme Court.
As a former Justice secretary and a member of the JBC, I call on Chief Justice Reynato Puno and the members of the JBC to stand its ground in the face of this brazen attempt by Malacanang to undermine the independence of the judiciary.
The JBC should insist in the finality of its nominees to the Supreme Court as provided for in the Constitution.
President Arroyo’s More >
Deport pharma execs who tried to bribe Malacanang
Jul 16th
Deport the foreign executives of giant pharmaceutical companies who allegedly tried to bribe Malacanang to prevent the implementation of the Cheaper Medicine Law.
On Monday, senators claimed that Pfizer Philippines, a multinational drug company, allegedly attempted to “bribe” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through the Department of Health (DoH) with five million “sulit (discount) cards” to be distributed to indigent patients around the country.
If proven true, the foreigner (drug company executive) who secretly met with Malacanang executives and allegedly tried to bribe President Arroyo should be immediately deported for conspiring against the interest of the Filipino people.
It is grand treachery against the Filipino More >
