Congressional Record
15th CONGRESS, THIRD REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Vol. 2
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
RESUMPTION OF SESSION
At 4:00 p.m., the session was resumed with Deputy
Speaker Arnulfo P. Fuentebella presiding.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
session is resumed.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, I move that we proceed
to the Additional Reference of Business.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Secretary General will please read the Additional
Reference of Business.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCE OF BUSINESS
The Secretary General read the following House Bills
and Resolutions on First Reading, Messages from the
President and the Senate, and Committee Reports, and the
Deputy Speaker made the corresponding references:
BILLS ON FIRST READING
House Bill No. 6898, entitled:
“AN ACT DECLARING SURIGAO CHANNEL OFF
THE COAST OF SOUTHERN LEYTE AS A
MARINE PROTECTED AREA”
By Representative Mercado (R.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
House Bill No. 6899, entitled:
“AN ACT DECLARING SAN JUAN BAY,
SOUTHERN LEYTE AS A MARINE
PROTECTED AREA”
By Representative Mercado (R.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
House Bill No. 6900, entitled:
“AN ACT DECLARING SOGOD BAY, SOUTHERN
LEYTE AS A MARINE PROTECTED AREA”
By Representative Mercado (R.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
House Bill No. 6902, entitled:
“AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 12 OF
No. 42e
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166 BY INCLUDING
PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE IN THE
LIST OF PUBLIC OFFICERS TO BE
ELECTED UNDER THE LOCAL ABSENTEE
VOTING”
By Representative Pacquiao
TO THE COMMITTEE ON SUFFRAGE AND
ELECTORAL REFORMS
House Bill No. 6903, entitled:
“AN ACT IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR
FALSIFICATION OF CERTIFICATES OF
LAND TITLE OR ANY APPLICATION, DEED,
INSTRUMENT
OR
SUPPORTING
DOCUMENT, REASONABLY CONNECTED
WITH AND CALCULATED TO CAUSE THE
ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF LAND
TITLE, CLASSIFYING THE SAME AS A
HEINOUS
OFFENSE
INVOLVING
ECONOMIC SABOTAGE IF THE VALUE OR
AGGREGATE VALUE OF THE LAND IS AT
LEAST
TEN
MILLION
PESOS
(P10,000,000.00), AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE ARTICLES 171 AND 172 OF ACT
NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”
By Representative Loyola
TO THE COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF LAWS
House Bill No. 6905, entitled:
“AN ACT CREATING A BARANGAY TO BE
KNOWN AS BARANGAY AM-AM IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF TADIAN, MOUNTAIN
PROVINCE”
By Representative Dalog
TO THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
House Bill No. 6908, entitled:
“AN ACT DELCARING SOGOD – SAN JUAN – ST.
BERNARD – HINUNANGAN FOREST IN
SOUTHERN LEYTE AS A PROTECTED AREA”
By Representative Mercado (R.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
RESOLUTIONS
House Resolution No. 3026, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION CALLING
ON
THE
2
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AND
SECURITY TO CONDUCT AN
INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION,
ON THE MANNER OF DECLASSIFYING
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AND HOW IT
SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC AND TO INVITE THE SECRETARY
OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, SECRETARY
VOLTAIRE GAZMIN, TO PROVIDE HIS
INPUT ON THE MATTER AS WELL AS TO
CLARIFY WHETHER OR NOT THE
‘MAYUGA REPORT’ HAS ALREADY BEEN
DECLASSIFIED AND IF SO, HOW CAN IT BE
ACCESSED BY THE PUBLIC”
By Representative Alcover
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 3027, entitled:
“RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE IMMENSE
PRIDE AND HONOR OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES ON THE VICTORY OF
THE PHILIPPINE MEMORY TEAM WHICH
WON BRONZE IN THE DECEMBER 14-16, 2012
WORLD MEMORY SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
HELD AT THE LILIAN BAYLIS SCHOOL IN
KENNINGTON LANE, LONDON, UNITED
KINGDOM CONSISTENTLY BESTING ALL
ASIAN
COUNTRIES
FOR
FOUR
CONSECUTIVE YEARS”
By Representative Herrera-Dy
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 3028, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON OVERSEAS WORKERS
AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION
ON THE DEATH OF 3 FILIPINO WORKERS IN
THE EXPLOSION OF THE PLATFORM OF
BLACK ELK ENERGY AND ON THE PLIGHT
OF SOME 70 FILIPINO WORKERS OF GRAND
ISLE SHIPPING, INC. (GIS)”
By Representatives Ilagan and De Jesus
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 3029, entitled:
“RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND
CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE FAMILY OF
HONORABLE GERARDO SABINAY ESPINA,
SR., FORMER REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LONE
DISTRICT OF BILIRAN DURING THE TENTH,
ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH CONGRESSES”
By Representatives Belmonte (F.), Gonzales (N.) and
Suarez
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
ADDITIONAL COAUTHORS
The list of additional coauthors is reflected in Journal
No. 42, dated February 6, 2013.*
* See ANNEXES (printed separately)
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
31 January 2013
HON. FELICIANO R. BELMONTE JR.
Speaker
House of Representatives
Quezon City
Dear Speaker Belmonte:
Pursuant to the provisions of Article VI, Section 26 (2)
of the 1987 Constitution, I hereby certify to the necessity of
the immediate enactment of Senate Bill No. 3091, entitled:
“AN ACT INSTITUTING A NATIONAL LAND USE
POLICY, PROVIDING THE IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,”
in order to address the public emergency consisting of the
country’s difficulty in implementing sustainable development
of its natural resources, particularly, its vast land areas.
Providing for a rational, holistic and just management and
allocation of the country’s land resources and the introduction
of land and physical planning as proper mechanisms for
determining appropriate land use would promote sustainable
economic and social growth without compromising
environmental integrity and stability. Moreover, the bill
ensures that land allocation and use will be consistent with
national goals concerning food and water security, disaster
risk reduction and climate change resiliency. Specifically,
the bill mandates the creation of a national geo-hazard map
that will identify disaster-prone areas in the country for use
in land utilization planning and disaster prevention programs.
Best regards.
Very truly yours,
(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
cc: HON. JUAN PONCE ENRILE
President, Philippine Senate
Pasay City
Sec. Manuel N. Mamba
PLLO
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE
Message dated January 28, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date passed with
amendments House Bill No. 2789, entitled:
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF A DIVISION OF CITY SCHOOLS IN THE
CITY OF TAGBILARAN, PROVINCE OF BOHOL
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Message dated January 30, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date approved
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
the Conference Committee Report on the disagreeing
provisions of Senate Bill No. 3282, entitled:
“AN ACT ALLOWING THE INFUSION OF FOREIGN
EQUITY IN THE CAPITAL OF RURAL BANKS,
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7353,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE RURAL BANK
ACT OF 1992, AS AMENDED AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”
and House Bill No. 5360, entitled:
“AN ACT ALLOWING FOREIGN EQUITY IN RURAL
BANKS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7353, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE ‘RURAL BANKS ACT OF 1992’ ”
TO THE ARCHIVES
Message dated January 30, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date passed the
following House Bills:
House Bill No. 2312, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
– IFUGAO ROAD VIA NATONIN – AGUINALDO
SECTION INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2314, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE MOUNTAIN
PROVINCE – BENGUET ROAD VIA
GUINDAZAN – MANKAYAN SECTION FROM
A PROVINCIAL ROAD TO A NATIONAL ROAD
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2315, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE MABAAY – ABATAN
ROAD FROM A PROVINCIAL ROAD TO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2316, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE DANTAY – SAGADA
– BESAO – QUIRINO ILOCOS SUR ROAD FROM
A PROVINCIAL ROAD TO A NATIONAL ROAD
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 1145, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE PROVINCIAL ROAD
CONNECTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF DATU
PAGLAS, PROVINCE OF MAGUINDANAO
AND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF COLUMBIO
AND LUTAYAN, PROVINCE OF SULTAN
KUDARAT INTO A NATIONAL ROAD”;
House Bill No. 1356, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE PROVINCIAL ROAD
FROM
BARANGAY
POBLACION
DUMALINAO,
MUNICIPALITY
OF
DUMALINAO, PASSING THROUGH THE
MUNICIPALITIES OF SAN PABLO, DINAS,
DIMATALING, TABINA, PITOGO, VINCENZO
SAGUN AND MARGOSATUBIG, PROVINCE OF
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR INTO A NATIONAL
ROAD, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR COASTAL ROAD”;
House Bill No. 2151, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE DOMOIT –
BOCOHAN ROAD IN THE CITY OF LUCENA,
PROVINCE OF QUEZON INTO A NATIONAL
ROAD”;
3
House Bill No. 2229, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE ROAD WHICH
STARTS AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF BASUD
JUNCTION FROM DAANG MAHARLIKA AT
KILOMETER 347+312 GOING TO THE
COASTAL BARANGAY OF MANGCAMAGONG,
MUNICIPALITY OF BASUD AND CONTINUES
TO OTHER COASTAL BARANGAYS OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF MERCEDES AND ENDS AT
LANOT CREEK, BARANGAY LANOT,
MUNICIPALITY OF MERCEDES, WHICH IS
THE PROVINCIAL BOUNDARY BETWEEN
CAMARINES NORTE – CAMARINES SUR INTO
A NATIONAL SECONDARY ROAD”;
House Bill No. 2234, entitled:
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONVERSION OF
THE NINOY AQUINO HIGHWAY JUNCTION
TO MADAYMEN TO MASALA TO SAGPAT
ROAD, MUNICIPALITY OF KIBUNGAN,
PROVINCE OF BENGUET INTO A NATIONAL
SECONDARY ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2261, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE PROVINCIAL ROAD
FROM THE SAN LORENZO RUIZ JUNCTION
WHICH STARTS AT THE MAHARLIKA
HIGHWAY IN BARANGAY MAGANG,
MUNICIPALITY OF DAET TRAVERSING
BARANGAY CALASGASAN, MUNICIPALITY
OF DAET TO BARANGAYS DACULANGBOLO,
DAGOTDOTAN, MAMPUROG, MATACONG
AND SAN ISIDRO, ALL IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF SAN LORENZO RUIZ,
PROVINCE OF CAMARINES NORTE INTO A
NATIONAL SECONDARY ROAD”;
House Bill No. 2864, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE CAMARINES NORTE
PROVINCIAL ROAD WHICH STARTS AT THE
JUNCTION OF DAANG MAHARLIKA
KILOMETER 337+000 IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF TALISAY TO THE JUNCTION OF DAANG
MAHARLIKA
KILOMETER
327+800
ENCOMPASSING THE MUNICIPALITY OF
VINZONS AND THE MUNICIPALITY OF LABO
INTO A NATIONAL SECONDARY ROAD AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3804, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BACARRA – VINTAR
– PIDDIG PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE
PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3810, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE PIDDIG – ESTANCIA
– CARASI PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE
PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 797, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE COGON –
KAPATAGAN PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE
PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL SUR INTO A
4
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2011, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE POBLACION – PAWA
ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PANAY,
PROVINCE OF CAPIZ INTO A NATIONAL
ROAD AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2015, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE STA. FE – CASANAYAN
ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PILAR,
PROVINCE OF CAPIZ INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2150, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE JUNCTION MSR –
POBLACION – TUMBAGA I – CASTAÑAS
PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF SARIAYA, PROVINCE OF QUEZON INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD”;
House Bill No. 3414, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE ROAD FROM
CARPENTERS BRIDGE TO DIVERSION ROAD
AND FROM JALANDONI BRIDGE TO FORBES
BRIDGE KNOWN AS EFRAIN B. TREÑAS
BOULEVARD IN ILOILO CITY INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3875, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE MAYANTOC – SAN
CLEMENTE ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITIES
OF MAYANTOC AND SAN CLEMENTE,
PROVINCE OF TARLAC INTO A NATIONAL
ROAD AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3806, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE PANSIAN – ADAMS
PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE PROVINCE OF
ILOCOS NORTE INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF”;
House Bill No. 3994, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE ALAE – CAMP
PHILLIPS – MAMPAYAG ROAD – DAHILAYAN
– LINDABAN – JCT. MANOLO FORTICH ROAD
– TANKULAN IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
MANOLO FORTICH, PROVINCE OF
BUKIDNON INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 4299, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE SILAY – PATAG
ROAD IN THE CITY OF SILAY, PROVINCE OF
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL INTO A NATIONAL
ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 5798, entitled:
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONVERSION OF
CANUMAY TO BIGNAY ROAD IN THE CITY
OF VALENZUELA, METRO MANILA INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2012, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE HIPONA –
CANAPIAN – QUINABONGLAN ROAD IN THE
MUNICIPALITIES OF PONTEVEDRA AND
MAAYON, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2013, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE CONCIENCIA –
TINIGBAN ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
PANITAN, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2014, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE COGON –
PONTEVEDRA ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITIES
OF PANIT-AN AND PONTEVEDRA, PROVINCE
OF CAPIZ INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2152, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE JUNCTION MSR –
PAIISA – CABAY – DEL ROSARIO
PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF TIAONG, PROVINCE OF QUEZON INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD”;
House Bill No. 2017, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE DUMULOG –
GABUAN – MONGPONG – CULAJAO –
BANICA ROAD IN ROXAS CITY, PROVINCE
OF CAPIZ INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2232, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BAD-AYAN – BANGA
– CAYAPAS – MANHOYOHOY ROAD TO BADAYAN – TOKING – MANHOYOHOY ROAD,
PROVINCE OF BENGUET INTO A NATIONAL
SECONDARY ROAD”;
House Bill No. 2233, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE NATUBLENG –
NABALICONG – PACSO – KABAYAN ROAD
INTO A NATIONAL SECONDARY ROAD”;
House Bill No. 2330, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE JP RIZAL ROAD IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF ENRILE, CAGAYAN GOING
TO THE MUNICIPALITY OF STA. MARIA OF THE
PROVINCE OF ISABELA VIA BARANGAYS
LANNA, MAGALALAG, ALIBAGO, MARACURU,
INGA, LEMU AND DIVISORIA OF THE SAME
MUNICIPALITY INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2409, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BULUAN – DAGA –
CATABBUGAN – PINUKPUK PROVINCIAL
ROAD IN THE PROVINCE OF APAYAO INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2865, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE SILOO –
KALABUGAO – CROSSING DAMAY ROAD IN
THE MUNICIPALITIES OF MALITBOG AND
SUMILAO, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON INTO
A NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3109, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE JUNCTION ALAE –
MANTIBUGAO – MINSORO – STA. ANA –
TAGOLOAN ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
MANOLO FORTICH, PROVINCE OF
BUKIDNON AND MUNICIPALITY OF
TAGOLOAN, PROVINCE OF MISAMIS
ORIENTAL INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3110, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE JUNCTION CABULA
– SAN VICENTE ROAD IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF BAUNGON, PROVINCE OF
BUKIDNON INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 1629, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE KIANGAN – TINOC
– BUGUIAS PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE
MUNICIPALITIES OF KIANGAN AND TINOC,
PROVINCE OF IFUGAO AND MUNICIPALITY
OF BUGUIAS, PROVINCE OF BENGUET INTO
A NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3111, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE JUNCTION CAMP 9
– NANGKA – IMBATUG ROAD IN THE
MUNICIPALITIES OF LIBONA AND
BAUNGON, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON INTO
A NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3212, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE SAN RAFAEL ROAD
TO TABUCAN ROAD IN MANDURRIAO,
ILOILO CITY INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3245, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE JALANDONI STREET
IN ILOILO CITY INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3298, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE YULO DRIVE IN
AREVALO DISTRICT, ILOILO CITY INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3808, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BACARRA – VINTAR
– SARRAT PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE
PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREOF”;
House Bill No. 3830, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE VINTAR –
MANARANG – BAGO – DAGUPAN – SARICAO
PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE PROVINCE OF
ILOCOS NORTE INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF”;
House Bill No. 3831, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE PASUQUIN –
CARATCAT – SARICAO PROVINCIAL ROAD
IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE INTO
A NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREOF”;
House Bill No. 3874, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE MONCADA – ANAO
ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF
MONCADA AND ANAO, PROVINCE OF
5
TARLAC INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 4304, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE VINTAR –
TAMDANGAN PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE
PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 5796, entitled:
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONVERSION OF
THE CANUMAY WEST ROAD IN THE CITY OF
VALENZUELA, METRO MANILA INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 5797, entitled:
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONVERSION OF
LINGUNAN TO LAWANG BATO ROAD IN THE
CITY OF VALENZUELA, METRO MANILA
INTO
A
NATIONAL
ROAD
AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 2741, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE PADADA –
COLUMBIO PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE
PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL SUR INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3215, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE CUBAY ROAD TO
BALABAGO ROAD IN JARO, ILOILO CITY
INTO
A
NATIONAL
ROAD
AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3216, entitled:
AN ACT CONVERTING THE STO. ROSARIO –
DURAN ROAD IN ILOILO CITY INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3246, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE TACAS ROAD FROM
QUINTIN SALAS TO PAVIA BOUNDARY IN
ILOILO CITY INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3348, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BONIFACIO DRIVE
IN AREVALO, ILOILO CITY INTO A NATIONAL
ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3353, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE STA. ELENA –
CAPALONGA BYPASS COASTAL ROAD IN
THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES NORTE
INTO
A
NATIONAL
ROAD
AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3829, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE PALLAS –
TANGAOAN PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE
PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREOF”;
House Bill No. 2937, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE KIANGAN –
ASIPULO – AMBAGUIO ROAD IN THE
MUNICIPALITIES OF KIANGAN AND
6
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
ASIPULO, PROVINCE OF IFUGAO AND
MUNICIPALITY OF AMBAGUIO, PROVINCE
OF NUEVA VIZCAYA INTO A NATIONAL
ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3347, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE AREVALO SO-OC
MANDURRIAO ROAD (GLORYVILLE TO SOOC) IN ILOILO CITY INTO A NATIONAL
ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3352, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE CAPALONGA – JOSE
PANGANIBAN BYPASS COASTAL ROAD IN
THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES NORTE
INTO
A
NATIONAL
ROAD
AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3805, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BANGUI WINDMILL
ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BANGUI,
ILOCOS NORTE INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 3395, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING B.G. MOLINA STREET
(FORMERLY
LAPU-LAPU
STREET)
TRAVERSING BARANGAY PARANG IN THE
SECOND DISTRICT, CITY OF MARIKINA INTO
A NATIONAL ROAD”;
House Bill No. 3807, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BACARRA – VINTAR
– TADAO – BANGUI PROVINCIAL ROAD IN
THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREOF”;
House Bill No. 3809, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BACARRA – TADAO
– BANGUI PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE
PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREOF”; and
House Bill No. 4013, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BAGUIO – BAUANG
– IRISAN – BALENBEN ROAD IN THE CITY
OF BAGUIO INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Message dated January 30, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date concurred
with House Bill No. 6307, entitled:
“AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LIABILITY OF THE
ABSOLUTE COMMUNITY OR CONJUGAL
PARTNERSHIP FOR AN OBLIGATION OF A
SPOUSE WHO PRACTICES A PROFESSION
AND THE CAPABILITY OF EITHER SPOUSE
TO DISPOSE OF AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE OTHER
SPOUSE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
ARTICLES 73 AND 111 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER
NO. 209, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FAMILY CODE
OF THE PHILIPPINES”
TO THE ARCHIVES
Message dated January 30, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date approved
the Conference Committee Report on the disagreeing
provisions of Senate Bill No. 3286 and House Bill No.
6643, both entitled:
“AN ACT ENHANCING THE PHILIPPINE BASIC
EDUCATION SYSTEM BY STRENGTHENING
ITS CURRICULUM AND INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF YEARS FOR BASIC EDUCATION,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES”
TO THE ARCHIVES
Message dated January 30, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date passed
Senate Bill No. 3006, entitled:
“AN ACT DECLARING NOVEMBER 20 OF
EVERY YEAR AS NATIONAL CHILDREN’S
DAY”
in which it requests the concurrence of the House of
Representatives
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Message dated February 4, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date passed
Senate Bill No. 3123, entitled:
“AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE
ANTI-MONEY
LAUNDERING
LAW,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 9160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
‘ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ACT OF 2001’,
AS AMENDED”
in which it requests the concurrence of the House of
Representatives
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Message dated February 4, 2013 informing the House
of Representatives that the Senate on even date
passed with amendments House Bill No. 2141,
entitled:
“AN ACT DECLARING THE PROVINCE OF DAVAO
ORIENTAL
A
TOURISM
ZONE,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES”
TO THE ARCHIVES
Message dated February 4, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date passed with
amendment House Bill No. 3877, entitled:
“AN ACT DECLARING EVERY 27 TH DAY OF
NOVEMBER AS ‘ARAW NG PAGBASA’, A
REGULAR WORKING HOLIDAY”
TO THE ARCHIVES
Message dated February 4, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date passed with
amendments House Bill No. 2140, entitled:
“AN ACT DECLARING THE PROVINCE OF
KALINGA IN THE CORDILLERA REGION AN
ECOTOURISM ZONE AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”
TO THE ARCHIVES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
Message dated February 4, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date passed the
following House Bills:
House Bill No. 4989, entitled:
“AN ACT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
PLANTILLA POSITIONS FOR THE WEST
VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY ASSIGNED TO
STAFF THE WEST VISAYAS STATE
UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER IN ORDER
TO MEET THE STANDARD NUMBER OF
STAFFING POSITIONS FOR A THREE
HUNDRED (300)-BED MEDICAL CENTER AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;
House Bill No. 1105,entitled:
“AN ACT DECLARING THE SHEIKH KARIMUL
MAKHDUM MOSQUE, CONSIDERED AS THE
SITE OF ONE OF THE OLDEST EXISTING
MUSLIM HOUSES OF PRAYER OR MOSQUES
IN THE PHILIPPINES, AT TUBIG INDANGAN,
SIMUNUL, PROVINCE OF TAWI-TAWI, AS A
NATIONAL HISTORICAL LANDMARK AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES”;
House Bill No. 5655, entitled:
“AN ACT DECLARING THE WALING-WALING
ORCHID AS NATIONAL FLOWER OF THE
PHILIPPINES IN ADDITION TO SAMPAGUITA
AS DECLARED IN PROCLAMATION NO. 652,
DATED 01 FEBRUARY 1934 BY GOVERNORGENERAL FRANK MURPHY”;
House Bill No. 2961, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE LAND
TRANSPORTATION
OFFICE
(LTO)
EXTENSION OFFICE LOCATED IN SAN
SIMON, PAMPANGA INTO A REGULAR LTO
DISTRICT OFFICE, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”;
House Bill No. 4659, entitled:
“AN ACT NAMING THE POLICE REGIONAL
OFFICE 11 AT SITIO CATITIPAN, BARANGAY
COMMUNAL, BUHANGIN DISTRICT,
DAVAO CITY AS CAMP QUINTIN M.
MERECIDO”; and
House Bill No. 5763, entitled:
“AN ACT NAMING THE MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
POLICE PROVINCIAL OFFICE IN THE
CAPITAL TOWN OF BONTOC, MOUNTAIN
PROVINCE TO CAMP LT. GERONIMO F.
MONTES”
TO THE ARCHIVES
Message dated February 4, 2013 informing the House of
Representatives that the Senate on even date passed with
amendments House Bill No. 4449, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE MOUNTAIN
PROVINCE STATE POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BONTOC,
MOUNTAIN PROVINCE INTO A STATE
UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE
MOUNTAIN PROVINCE STATE UNIVERSITY,
WITH CAMPUSES IN THE MUNICIPALITIES
OF TADIAN, BAUKO, PARACELIS AND
7
BARLIG, ALL LOCATED IN MOUNTAIN
PROVINCE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Message dated February 4, 2013 informing the House
of Representatives that the Senate on even date
passed with amendments House Bill No. 4253,
entitled:
“AN ACT RENAMING THE PALAWAN POLICE
PROVINCIAL OFFICE (PALAWAN PPO) TO
CAMP HIGINIO ACOSTA MENDOZA SR.”
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report by the Committee on Good Government and Public
Accountability and the Committee on Housing and Urban
Development (Committee Report No. 2685), re H. R.
No. 57, entitled:
“RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON
GOOD GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC
ACCOUNTABILITY TO CONDUCT AN
INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, TO
RESOLVE THE ISSUE REGARDING ALLEGED
SMOKEY MOUNTAIN PROJECT SCAM”
informing the House of the joint Committees’ findings
and recommendations
Sponsors: Representatives Treñas and Valencia and the
Members of the Committees on Good Government
and Public Accountability and Housing and Urban
Development
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Natural Resources and the
Committee on Appropriations (Committee Report No.
2686), re H. No. 6901, entitled:
“AN ACT DECLARING THE PEÑABLANCA
PROTECTED LANDSCAPE AND SEASCAPE
LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
PEÑABLANCA, PROVINCE OF CAGAYAN, AS
A PROTECTED AREA AND ITS PERIPHERAL
AREAS AS BUFFER ZONE, PROVIDING FOR
ITS MANAGEMENT AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”
recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill
No. 3477
Sponsors: Representatives Matugas, Limkaichong and
Ting
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Natural Resources (Committee
Report No. 2687), re H. R. No. 3025, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY OF MANILA,
THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY (BAI),
THE PROTECTED AREA AND WILDLIFE
BUREAU (PAWB) AND ALL RELEVANT
AGENCIES, TO FACILITATE THE IMMEDIATE
TRANSFER OF MALI, THE ELEPHANT
CURRENTLY HOUSED AT THE MANILA ZOO,
TO BOON LOTT’S ELEPHANT SANCTUARY
(BLES) IN THAILAND”
8
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
recommending its adoption in substitution of House
Resolution Nos. 2530, 2632, 2885 and 2937
Sponsors: Representatives Matugas, Golez (A.), Padilla,
Gonzales (N.), Rodriguez (R.), Rodriguez (M.),
Ilagan and De Jesus
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Government Enterprises and
Privatization (Committee Report No. 2688), re H. No.
6904, entitled:
“AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE
SYSTEM”
recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill
Nos. 271, 1050, 1180, 1399, 2582, 2583, 2973,
2975, 2995, 3441, 3785, 3964, 4846, 4966, 5043,
5150, 5569, 5570, 6088, 6445, 6625 and 6665
Sponsors: Representatives Fabian, Tinio, Angara,
Magsaysay (E.), Rodriguez (R.), Rodriguez (M.),
Matugas, Ocampo, Castelo, Ferriol, Escudero, Acop,
Ejercito, San Luis, Aumentado, Calimbas-Villarosa,
Apacible, Villarica, Del Rosario (A.G.), MercadoRevilla, Sy-Alvarado, Ebdane and Syjuco
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Health (Committee Report No.
2689), re H. No. 5757, entitled:
“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN
THE CITY OF MEYCAUAYAN, PROVINCE OF
BULACAN, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”
recommending its approval with amendments
Sponsors: Representatives Marañon and Villarica
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Health (Committee Report No.
2690), re H. No. 6906, entitled:
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF A MOTHER AND CHILD HOSPITAL IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF SAN REMIGIO. PROVINCE
OF CEBU AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”
recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill
No. 2153
Sponsors: Representatives Marañon and Salimbangon
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Health (Committee Report No.
2691), re H. No. 5756, entitled:
“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN
THE MUNICIPALITY OF OBANDO, PROVINCE
OF BULACAN, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”
recommending its approval with amendments
Sponsors: Representatives Marañon and Villarica
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Health (Committee Report No.
2692), re H. No. 2164, entitled:
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF A DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA ELENA,
PROVINCE OF CAMARINES NORTE AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”
recommending its approval with amendments
Sponsors: Representatives Marañon and Unico
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Health (Committee Report No.
2693), re H. No. 5758, entitled:
“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN
THE MUNICIPALITY OF MARILAO,
PROVINCE
OF
BULACAN,
AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”
recommending its approval with amendments
Sponsors: Representatives Marañon and Villarica
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Youth and Sports Development
(Committee Report No. 2694), re H. No. 6907, entitled:
“AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF
REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER NINETY HUNDRED
AND SIXTY FOUR (RA 9064), OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS ‘NATIONAL ATHLETES,
COACHES AND TRAINERS BENEFITS AND
INCENTIVES ACT OF 2001’ AND PROVIDING
FUNDS THEREFOR”
recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill
Nos. 939, 1578, 2662, 4025 and 4320
Sponsors: Representatives Unico, Sambar, Pacquiao,
Arroyo (D.), Macapagal-Arroyo (G.), Gomez,
Primicias-Agabas and Acharon
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Revision of Laws (Committee
Report No. 2695), re H. No. 6909, entitled:
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A REVISED
CARNAPPING ACT, REPEALING FOR THE
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6539,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘ANTICARNAPPING ACT OF 1972’ “
recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill
Nos. 1400, 3996, 4003, 4033, 4043, 4057, 4064,
4090, 4142, 4294, 5263, 5664 and 5931
Sponsors: Representatives Primicias-Agabas, Rodriguez
(R.) and Lapus
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognize
Hon. David L. Kho who has signified his intention to deliver
a question of privilege. I so move, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
Gentleman may proceed to take the floor to deliver his
question of privilege.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. KHO (D.)
REP. KHO (D.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I stand here on a question of personal and collective
privilege.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
Just recently, both Houses of Congress approved a bill
that declared the Chinese Lunar New Year as a special holiday
in the Philippines. This year, it falls on February 10.
Philippine-China relations date back to prehistoric times.
Barter trade or the exchange of goods was the usual trade
practice then in the absence of money or currency. Barter
trade between these people was characterized by honesty, trust
and good faith. Our mission today is to continue to develop
and promote these values and establish friendly and lasting
relations with all of our neighbors. As a member of the
community of nations, let us build bridges of peace, goodwill,
cooperation and understanding for all mankind. Let us
promote the brotherhood of men and women and break the
barriers of suspicion and ill-will.
An ancient Chinese sage once said: “Beyond the seven
seas is the brotherhood of men.” We share the same sentiment
of Ambassador Ma Keqing of China when she recently said
that our two countries and people must maintain their friendly
and enduring relations despite some unresolved issues. In the
end we can only say that the true measure of success is not
the amount of wealth or money that you possess nor the extent
of power you wield but your harmonious relations with God
and your fellowmen. Let us strive to be citizens of the world
and serve the cause of internationalism. We all share the same
values and aspirations— serve the people and serve them
well.
Let me share with you the inspiring words of Helen
Steiner Rice on people:
People need people and friends need friends.
And we all need love for a full life depends
Not on vast riches or great acclaim,
Not on success or on worldly fame,
But just in knowing that someone cares
And holds us close in their thoughts and prayers.
For only the knowledge that we’re understood
Makes everyday living feel wonderfully good.
Happy New Year to all.
Long live the friendship between China and the
Philippines.
Kung Hei Fat Choi.
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we refer the
speech of the Honorable David Kho to the appropriate committee.
I so move, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we now
recognize Hon. Leopoldo N. Bataoil of the Second District
of Pangasinan.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
Honorable Bataoil may now proceed.
9
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. BATAOIL
REP. BATAOIL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
“Our Dream Shall Never Die—Baybayin Buhayin.”
Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, friends, ladies and
gentlemen:
A blessed afternoon to all of you.
I rise today on a question of personal and collective
privilege on the subject: “Our Dream Shall Never Die—
Baybayin Buhayin.”
Mr. Speaker, November 30, 2013 ends the year-long
celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Gat Andres
Bonifacio, the founder of Katipunan and leader of the
Philippine revolution for independence. Last August 2012,
President Benigno Aquino III has directed the National
Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to lead
the organization and the implementation of the program
of activities in commemoration of the 150 th birth
anniversary of Andres Bonifacio on November 30, 2013.
Mr. Speaker, President Aquino issued a directive through
Administrative Order No. 27, signed by Executive
Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., on August 2, 2012. The
President thereat directed the head of the National
Historical Commission to take the lead in the organization
and implementation of the program of activities beginning
with the countdown activities on November 30, 2012 until
November 30, 2013.
Mr. Speaker, ang “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa” ay isang
tula na sinulat ni Andres Bonifacio na kanyang ginamit para
himukin ang mga Pilipino na maging makabayan. Si Bonifacio
ay mas magaling na mandirigma kaysa sa isang manunulat
ngunit pinatunayan niya na kaya niyang gumawa ng isang
tula para sa kanyang minamahal na bayan. Bahagi ng tulang
ito ay nagsabing:
Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa
ni Andres Bonifacio
Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya
Sa pagka-dalisay at pagka dakila
gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa?
Aling pag-ibig pa, wala na nga, wala…
Walang mahalagang hindi inihandog
Ng may pusong mahal sa Bayang nagkupkop;
Dugo, yaman, dunong, tiis at pagod,
Buhay ma’y abuting magkalagot-lagot…
Sa kaniya’y utang ang unang pagtanggap
Ng simoy ng hanging nagbigay ng lunas
Sa inis na puso na sisinghap-singhap
Sa balong malalim ang siphayo’t hirap…
Ang nangakaraang panahon ng aliw
Ang inaasahang araw na darating
Ng pagkatimawa ng mga alipin,
Liban pa ba sa bayan tatanghalin?
Kung ang bayang ito’y nasasapanganib
At siya ay dapat ipagtangkilik
Ang anak, asawa, magulang, kapatid
Isang tawag niya’y tatalikdang pilit…
10
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
Nasaan ang dangal ng mga Tagalog?
Nasaan ang dugong dapat na ibuhos?
Baya’y inaapi, bakit di kumilos
At natitilihang ito’y mapanood?
Kayong mga dukhang walang tanging palad
Kundi ang mabuhay sa dalita’t hirap
Ampunin ang Bayan kung nasa ay lunas
Pagkat ang ginhawa niya ay sa lahat.
Ipaghandog-handog ang buong pag-ibig
Hanggang sa may dugo’y ubusing itigis
Kung sa pagtatanggol, buhay ay mapatid
Ito’y kapalaran at tunay na langit.
Mr. Speaker, si Dr. Zeus Salazar, isang dalubhasa sa
kasaysayan at sa buhay ni Andres Bonifacio at Propesor
Emeritus ng UP Diliman ay nagsabing:
Ang bandila mismo ni Gat Andres Bonifacio at
ng Katipunan ay may Baybayin na ‘KA’ at consistent
naman ang paggamit ng baybayin sa idolohiyang
KKK na itinatanghal ang kabihasnang Pilipino.
Makikita po natin, doon sa screen, sa mga simbolo ng
Baybayin, halimbawa, ang patakarang dapat mag-Tagalog ang
lahat at minumultahan ang hindi gagamit nito sa mga pulong,
pangalang KKK at pati na Sandugo at iba pa. Mr. Speaker,
pagdating naman sa pag-ibig sa wikang panulat o Baybayin
ay mayroon din namang mahahalagang tanong na dapat
sagutin at kung bakit ito dapat buhayin at ibalik muli. Asking
the right question will take us to a better result because if we
ask the wrong question, the answer is irrelevant.
Here are the five defining questions for the Baybayin:
Why Baybayin is important?—that is number one. Number
two, if it is important, why Baybayin is so neglected? Number
three, what is Baybayin all about? Number four, what makes
Baybayin so difficult? Lastly, number five, how can Baybayin
be best accomplished?
Ang isang bayang nag-iingat ng kanyang wika, taglay
niya ang tandang kalayaan. “While a people preserves its
language, it preserves the marks of liberty,” El Filibusterismo,
1887 (UST Central Library, España, Manila).
Mr. Speaker, sa Kabanata XII on Structure of Scientific
Revolution ni Thomas Kuhn, may bahagi dito kung saan
hiniram ni Kuhn ang mga salita ni Max Planck:
A new scientific truth does not triumph by
convincing its opponents and making them see the
light, but rather because its opponents eventually
die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar
with it.
Mr. Speaker, Bayani Mendoza de Leon, the author of
Baybayin: The Ancient Script of the Philippines:A Concise
Manual, and brother of Felipe Mendoza de Leon, Chairman
of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA),
said:
The Baybayin Bill is really an important step
towards instilling the Baybayin script in the
consciousness of Filipinos, especially the youth.
In the foreword of my Baybayin Manual, I made this
statement:
There was nothing in the national condition to
support the script’s continued existence. The people
had long lived on borrowed identities—borrowed
thoughts, values, sentiments, and aspirations—that
being their authentic selves, like practicing a native
system of writing, had lost its relevance.
Mr. Speaker, Baybayin is truly a Filipino identity because
the 1590 Boxer Codex, the first book written about Filipinos,
explicitly mentioned the Filipinos’ adeptness in Baybayin
speaking and writing. Women were particularly singled out
as being well- versed in writing on bamboo and leaves, more
appropriately, the palm midrib base known as talulo. Baybayin
enabled Filipinos to understand each other, transcending
regionalism and ethnolinguistic differences. Boxer Codex
mentioned how Visayans can understand Tagalog well. This
can be partly explained by the compilation made by Pardo de
Tavera in 1884 as seen in the figure shown on the screen.
Similarities among the various groups based on locality were
very clear, suggesting each other’s ability to comprehend
similar symbols and connotations. It took the Spaniards 72
years to obliterate our ancient Baybayin. By the time Doctrina
Christiana was published in 1593, many Filipinos abandoned
the use of Baybayin in favor of the Latinized Tagalog based
on Spanish orthography. Signing of names became
fashionable, using the newly introduced alphabet “Abakada.”
Today, outside of Mangyan and Tagbanua syllabary, usage
of Baybayin is confined to fancy writing and body tattoo. Many
writers have dealt with the forms, structure and origin of the
syllabary and a few have ventured into the evaluation of Baybayin
to represent phonology of Tagalog and other major Philippine
languages. The shapes of Baybayin symbols known nowadays
are not always the same, such that the orientation and direction
of the syllabary at times do not conform. Early Spanish, American
and contemporary writings altogether have never been
satisfactory and conclusive as to where the ancient syllabary
originated. Going back to our ancient roots, difficult as it may
sound, may lead us to understanding our identity as Filipinos.
Mr. Speaker, because of the aforementioned reasons, I
filed House Bill No. 4395 last March 16, 2011, entitled: AN
ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION AND
CONSERVATION OF BAYBAYIN, AND DECLARING
BAYBAYIN AS THE NATIONAL SCRIPT OF THE
PHILIPPINES. I also delivered my first privilege speech on
June 6, 2011 and the second last June 4, 2012, respectively.
Last February 2012, during the first public hearing of the
House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, chaired by
the late Rep. Salvador H. Escudero III of the First District of
Sorsogon, those present during the hearing were Reps. Mariano
U. Piamonte Jr. of the Party-List A Teacher, Antonio L. Tinio
of the Party-List ACT Teachers, Mel Senen S. Sarmiento of
the First District of Western Samar, Monique Yasmin Q.
Lagdameo of the First District of Makati, Eduardo R. Gullas
of the First District of Cebu, and Mohammed Hussein P.
Pangandaman of the First District of Lanao del Sur.
Mr. Speaker, there is an urgent need to institutionalize the
protection and conservation of Baybayin script, a writing system
well-known and practiced in the land long before the Spaniards
introduced the Latin-Roman script that is popularly being used
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
today. I reiterate—I believe this piece of legislation shall serve
as a starting point towards establishing our national identity
and as a unifying element for us Filipinos. We owe it to our
children and the generations to come to establish an identity
that is uniquely and truly Filipino.
A new wave of nationalism must rise for the development
of the nation. It is time we reclaim a national heritage that is
threatened by the rapidly changing times. Since the Baybayin
Bill was not acted upon in the Fiftheenth Congress, and given
the opportunity to be part of the Sixteenth Congress, I will
refile the Baybayin Bill. I urge you, my dear colleagues who
will be reelected and even if you will not be reelected, to join
me in this dream of Baybayin Buhayin.
Mabuhay ang Baybayin! Our dream shall never die.
REP. PADILLA. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). What is the
pleasure of the distinguished Gentleman from Nueva Vizcaya?
REP. PADILLA. Will the distinguished Gentleman from
Pangasinan yield to a few questions?
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
Gentleman from Pangasinan, if he so desires, is he willing to yield?
REP. BATAOIL. Gladly, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please
proceed.
REP. PADILLA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am very much impressed with the speech delivered by
our colleague from Pangasinan. I am not only impressed but
my curiosity was aroused. Of course, I have to admit that he is
fighting for something which deserves the support of everyone
in the House as well as the entire country. However, Mr.
Speaker, I just want to take advantage of the opportunity to
clarify a few points from the Gentleman from Pangasinan. He
mentioned the bill that was filed, and this is House Bill No.
4395, which I think was filed sometime in 2011 and among
others, the intention of the bill is to preserve the Baybayin.
Now, my first question is: is Baybayin a language or a
form of writing? Will the Gentleman from Pangasinan
describe to us what Baybayin is all about?
REP. BATAOIL. Mr. Speaker, Baybayin is a form of
writing, an original Filipino script which was used many, many
years ago before the arrival of the Spaniards. This was
discovered as being widely used not only in Luzon but even
in the Visayas and Mindanao, as we can see on the screen. If
we will also recall, when we were still in the elementary level,
it was even introduced to us in the form of Alibata. I do not
know if the Gentleman is familiar with the Alibata, but through
the years, that never succeeded, until such time that there
were these advocates, through the so-called “Baybayin
Foundation, Incorporated,” who made a stand and started a
widespread awareness for all our people to revive this national
script, this form of writing, which is uniquely Filipino.
REP. PADILLA. In other words, Mr. Speaker, it is a form
of writing, and whether you are an Ilocano, Pangasinense,
11
Ilonggo or whatever, you can use Baybayin to express your
thoughts in writing.
REP. BATAOIL. Wen apo. Opo. Yes, sir. They can be
written in Baybayin because Baybayin is syllabaric and
conforms to the way a word is pronounced, and that manner
of writing can be used in all dialects all over the country.
REP. PADILLA. Is this also similar to what the Malays
used during the olden days, Mr. Speaker?
REP. BATAOIL. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I believe so.
REP. PADILLA. I recall, Mr. Speaker, in my study of
the history of my province of Nueva Vizcaya, and I was
surprised to find out that when the Spaniards arrived in my
province in the 1590s and they had an encounter with our
people there—Nueva Vizcaya is composed of tribes, the
Isinay tribe, Gaddang, Bugkalot, et cetera and the first
encounter was between the Spaniards and the Isinays—the
Spaniards were surprised to learn that the Isinays of Nueva
Vizcaya knew how to read and write and that there was
civilization in this part of the world because we know how to
read and write. The way it was done, as described by the
researcher, was somehow nearer to the Malayan style of
writing. So, I am just wondering whether what was discovered
by the Spaniards in Nueva Vizcaya during those days, in the
1590s, must be what the Gentleman from Pangasinan is now
telling us as Baybayin. Do you think there is such a strong
possibility for that or the probability is there, Mr. Speaker?
REP. BATAOIL. Yes, Mr. Speaker, there is a possibility
that our Baybayin and the Malay form of writing were similar
in nature and might be related, but the one in Nueva Vizcaya
that he mentioned, was also a part of this Baybayin discovery
and is now written and recorded in the National Historical
Commission and also in the National Library. I believe that
what they had there in Nueva Vizcaya was similar in form. In
fact, in other provinces, the latest discovery which we saw
was featured in one of the national TV was in Mindoro—
that stone where the Baybayin writing was discovered is now
preserved right there in that particular place in Mindoro. Sad
to say, it was installed in a manner that was not correct—
something like it being upside down because the people who
discovered it did not know what it was all about. Some experts
went to the rescue and assisted them. I believe they are similar,
Mr. Speaker, the Malay and our Baybayin.
REP. PADILLA. Where is that piece or what we call a
relic? Is it being kept properly, Mr. Speaker, or it remains in
that area where it was discovered?
REP. BATAOIL. It remains in that particular school in
Mindoro, and they made a pedestal or a stand for it. There
are many more discoveries which are now in the custody of
the National Historical Commission and National Library.
REP. PADILLA. Okay, just one last point, Mr. Speaker,
because I do not want to belabor the distinguished Gentleman
from Pangasinan with a long interpellation.
The intention of House Bill No. 4395 is to preserve
Baybayin. What does the Gentleman mean by “preserve” —
12
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
are we going to abandon the present form of writing that we
are now used to or the writing that we are now adept with, or
is this just for historical purposes? I wonder, what would be
the intention of the Gentleman from Pangasinan.
REP. BATAOIL. Mr. Speaker, I want this to be preserved,
conserved and even declared as our national script.
REP. PADILLA. So, it means that we have to go back to
Baybayin for purposes of writing, Mr. Speaker?
REP. GOLEZ (R.). Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
Gentleman from Parañaque City is recognized.
REP. GOLEZ (R.). Thank you very much.
May I have the pleasure of interpellating our
distinguished colleague from the Second District of
Pangasinan.
REP. BATAOIL. Gladly, Mr. Speaker.
REP. BATAOIL. Hopefully, eventually, but...
REP. PADILLA. If we do that, there could be some
constraints because the intention here is that, if you write, it
is to be able to communicate and if our communication, our
letters are not easily understood, it defeats the purpose, Mr.
Speaker.
REP. BATAOIL. What is important, Mr. Speaker, is that
we recognize it as our national script. We recognize and
declare it as our national script and perhaps, in coordination
with the appropriate agency like, for example, the DepEd
which will be lending us their expertise on the matter of
preserving, conserving and using it, to provide some form of
guidance for the purpose, not unless …
REP. PADILLA. Or perhaps it could just be introduced
as a subject, Mr. Speaker, without necessarily imposing that
it becomes the style or form of how we should write as
Filipinos. It is simply a recognition that this is Baybayin, and
that somehow we should be acquainted or familiar with it,
but not necessarily imposing this as the means of writing our
letters and documents. As I have said, there would be some
difficulties that we may encounter for it is a kind of
communication that we cannot read. The Gentleman also said
that the one—is it in Mindoro or in Romblon?
REP. BATAOIL. In Mindoro.
REP. PADILLA. In Mindoro, it was not properly placed
because they simply do not know kung alin ang itaas o ang
ibaba at saan sila mag-uumpisa. Based on the article that I
read, and going back to that discovery of the Spaniards in
Nueva Vizcaya, the accounts thereat say that in reading it, we
have to start below— mula po sa ibaba, tapos pataas, as
described by the author, Mr. Speaker. So, it is really
interesting.
Anyway, while I am raising these concerns, I am one
with the Gentleman from Pangasinan in his proposition that
something must be done, at least, if not fully utilized, for the
Baybayin—to recognize it and provide some kind of
preservation because it is something that Filipinos could be
proud of, ito pala ay sariling atin, Mr. Speaker. So, it is on
that note that I would like to congratulate our colleague from
Pangasinan and hopefully, you and I will be together in the
next Congress so that you can be assured that this
Representation from Nueva Vizcaya would be your ally in
pushing through with that advocacy, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
REP. BATAOIL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Fuentebella
relinquished the Chair to Rep. Rodolfo C. Fariñas.
REP. GOLEZ (R.). Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, just like our colleague from Nueva Vizcaya,
this Representation would like to congratulate our colleague
from Pangansinan for this very interesting speech whose
objective is to really enhance and educate the Filipinos on our
culture that somehow disappeared when the Europeans came
to the country. I remember that when I was in high school, I
knew how to write these letters but at that time, it was called
Sanskrit. This is actually an adaptation of the Indian word for
the characters, Sanskrit, which is also being used in Malaysia
and Indonesia, and is very similar to what is being used in
Nepal. Is that correct, Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleague?
REP. BATAOIL. Yes, Mr. Speaker.
REP. GOLEZ (R.). So, it is the same as Sanskrit.
REP. BATAOIL. It is similar, Mr. Speaker.
REP. GOLEZ (R.). Yes. So, Baybayin is simply a Filipino
word for Sanskrit. I remember that I could write some words,
but I do not remember it anymore. In fact, if we will look at
the insignia of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, there is a
letter there, a character which is Sanskrit or Baybayin, if I
may use the term of our distinguished colleague. Is that
correct?
REP. BATAOIL. Yes, Mr. Speaker.
REP. GOLEZ (R.). Our colleague is very familiar with
this since he came from the armed forces prior to joining the
Philippine National Police—yes, that is the one. It is good
that he has it here, it is right in the middle of the sun.
Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, what happened was, when the Spaniards
came, especially the friars, I understand that they ordered the
burning of a lot of materials written on bamboo—bamboo
was used then—and that resulted in the loss of so much
artifacts, so much culture, and even so much history. It was
not only the physical objects but the contents of these materials
that were lost that probably would date back to the time of
the Majapahit Empire and the Srivijaya Empire. Yes, the
Srivijaya Empire which was the one responsible for the
introduction of the Sanskrit, the wave of culture from India
to Sumatra and all the way to the many parts of the Philippines.
Is my recollection correct, Mr. Speaker, distinguished
colleague from Pangasinan?
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
REP. BATAOIL. Mr. Speaker, I admire the recollection
of our distinguished Gentleman from Parañaque City.
If we will look ...
REP. GOLEZ (R.). I think that is a picture of Pedro
Paterno. Why is the propagandist Pedro Paterno in your
presentation, Mr. Speaker? I do not remember him as an expert
in Sanskrit.
REP. BATAOIL. The illustration manifests the
significance of the person on the preservation of the Baybayin
as shown here.
REP. GOLEZ (R.). Anyway, as I said, this is very
important in order to tell the world that we had our own
culture, we had our own literature, we could write, we could
add, there are so many things, and that we are even more
culturally-rich than the many parts of the United States. In
fact, when the United States was still a grassland, we already
had culture, we could write, we could build structures. In
fact, our civilization was more advanced than America during
the time of the native Americans. That is my information,
and I have no doubt that it is correct.
REP. BATAOIL. Yes, Mr. Speaker, for hundreds of years
before the arrival of the Spaniards, as I have earlier stated,
we already had this form of writing. The Filipino women have
been cited as the ones more adept at or more familiar with
this form of writing rather than the men. Some pieces of
evidence on this form of writing have been preserved and are
still in our custody for the purpose.
REP. GOLEZ (R.). That is correct. In fact, I also
remember Pigafetta—I am sure our colleague is familiar with
Pigafetta, the chronicler of Magellan— who wrote a very
extensive account of what he witnessed in the Philippines;
Morga noted this as well.
Now, I would like to deviate a little from Baybayin and
I would like to ask some questions because our distinguished
colleague also read the very emotional and patriotic poem
written by Bonifacio. I also quoted that in one interpellation
a few months ago here when I interpellated our distinguished
colleague from Cavite. Now, on Bonifacio, since we speak
of love of country and patriotism, how does he think Bonifacio
would react to the presence of the Chinese in our exclusive
economic zone?
REP. BATAOIL. I am sure, Mr. Speaker, that he will
raise arms one more time for the purpose of uniting the
Filipino people in preserving our sovereignty.
REP. GOLEZ (R.). Sa tingin po ninyo, G. Ispiker, si Gat
Andres Bonifacio ay tiyak na magbibigay ng nangangalit na
mga pahayag dito sa presensya ng mga Intsik, ng mga Tsino,
doon sa ating exclusive economic zone, lalo na sa Mischief
Reef, at itong bandang huli, doon sa Scarborough Shoal na
malapit po sa Lingayen, sa probinsya ng ating ginagalang na
kasama mula sa Pangasinan?
REP. BATAOIL. Along that line, Mr. Speaker, let me
just read this paragraph which directly answers the concern
of the Gentleman from Parañaque City:
13
Kung ang bayang ito’y nasasapanganib
At siya ay dapat ipagtangkilik
Ang anak, asawa, magulang, kapatid
Isang tawag niya’y tatalikdang pilit.
The poem goes on.
REP. GOLEZ (R.). Salamat po.
Talagang nakakangalit ang mga ganyang salita at kung
nabubuhay siya, sa palagay ko, ang mga salitang iyan ang
gagamitin.
Ang kinalulungkot ko lang, Mr. Speaker, distinguished
colleague, mayroon ibang mga sektor kung saan ay tinuturing
nila na bayani si Gat Andres Bonifacio pero mukhang
napakatahimik nila pagdating dito sa isyu ng mga puwersa
ng Tsino na nasa loob ng ating exclusive economic zone. Mas
pinapansin nila ang aksidente doon sa Tubbataha Reef pero
bulag sila, pipi at walang boses sila pagdating dito sa Mischief
Reef na nasa loob na ng ating exclusive economic zone.
REP. BATAOIL. Mr. Speaker, let me just read through
this poem again in answer to that particular statement of our
Gentleman from Parañaque City:
Nasaan ang dangal ng mga Tagalog?
Nasaan ang dugong dapat na ibuhos?
Baya’y inaapi, bakit di kumikilos
At natitilihang ito’y mapanood?
REP. GOLEZ (R.). Salamat po at napakaganda po ng
mga binitiwan ninyong salita G. Ispiker. Napakahusay din ng
inyong pananalita. Mukhang galit na galit kayo. May dahilan
din at iyon nga ang ikinalulungkot ko. Nakikita ko ang ibang
mga sektor kung saan galit na galit sila doon sa nangyari sa
Tubbataha. Totoo iyon, talaga naman may dahilan para
magalit pero sa palagay ko, mas ilang libong beses na tayo
ay dapat magalit sa presensya ng mga Tsino sa loob ng
Mischief Reef at sa loob ng Scarborough Shoal.
At this juncture, the Presiding Officer relinquished the
Chair to Deputy Speaker Arnulfo P. Fuentebella.
Sang-ayon ho ba kayo doon? Ako ay hindi naniniwala
na pagiging pagkakaibigan ang kanilang layunin dito. Sa
palagay ko, tayo ay nilalansi lamang sa mga matatamis na
salita ng pagkakaibigan pero ginagapang ang ating teritoryo
habang tayo ay niloloko sa mga magagandang salita na
binibitiwan, halimbawa, ng kanilang ambassador dito.
REP. BATAOIL. Nararapat lang, Mr. Speaker, na ang
pagka-Pilipino, ang dugong Pilipino ang dapat na manaig
sa bawat isa sa atin sa pagkakataong ito, lalung-lalo na kung
ang ating bansa ay tila baga niyuyurakan, pati ang ating
kasarinlan, sa pamamagitan ng pagsakop ng mga ari-arian
natin tulad ng Scarborough Shoal, Kalayaan Island at iba
pa.
REP. GOLEZ (R.). Opo, iyon na nga po. Maganda po at
gusto ko lang banggitin na ang ating kaibigan ay mula po sa
Lingayen sa Pangasinan at ang inyong lingkod ay tagaParañaque. Mayroon po tayong magkaugnay na kasaysayan
pagdating sa karanasan sa mga Tsino.
14
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
Noong mga 1580 o 1590, mayroon mga ilang libong
mga Tsino na dumating sa Pilipinas at sila ay nag-landing
doon sa loob ng Manila Bay, mismo sa aming lugar sa Don
Galo sa Parañaque—ang pangalan nito ay Don Galo—at
ito ang puwersa ni Limahong. Akala niya ay kaya niyang
sakupin ang Pilipinas at mahina ang puwersa ng mga
Espanyol dito dahil iilan lamang sila, pero hindi niya akalain
na sila ay sasalubungin ng mga galit na galit at mga
patriyotikong mga taga-Parañaque sa Don Galo. Pagkatapos
dito, alam ninyo naman, sila ay nagpunta ng Lingayen.
Tumakbo sila doon sa Lingayen, gamit ang kanilang mga
bapor, at doon sila na-trap pero sa kung anong kadahilanan,
sila ay nakaalis. Pareho tayong nakaranas ng kalupitan ng
grupong ito na ang layunin talaga, kahit noon pa man, ay
sakupin ang Pilipinas. Isang pirata, isang warlord si
Limahong at sa aking pananaw, mukhang bumalik na ang
mga kamag-anak ni Limahong dito. Hindi sila nagtagumpay
noon sa aming lugar sa Don Galo, hindi sila nagtagumpay
sa inyong lugar sa Lingayen, pero mukhang mayroon silang
nararanasang tagumpay ngayon sa loob ng ating exclusive
economic zone, under a more modern way of piracy and
warlordism in the guise of the so-called “9-dash line,” in
claiming that this is part of their territory.
On that note, Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate my
congratulations to our colleague from Pangasinan for what I
consider a very timely speech and, indeed, our colleague has a
very brilliant and elegant way of ending his first term as
Congressman of the Second District of Pangasinan, and starting
his second term as Congressman also of the Second District of
Pangasinan. There is no doubt on my mind that he is coming
back in order to pursue this very laudable advocacy on his part.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and again, congratulations to
our colleague from Pangasinan.
REP. BATAOIL. Maraming salamat po.
REP. MARCOLETA. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Dep.
Majority Leader, please.
REP. MARCOLETA. Mr. Speaker.
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognize
the Honorable Marcoleta.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
Honorable Marcoleta, what is his pleasure?
REP. MARCOLETA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, nawala…
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
Gentleman from Pangasinan has already sat down.
REP. MARCOLETA. Mga ilang katanungan po sana
kung papayag ang kagalang-galang na Kinatawan na
nagpahayag ng isang question of privilege. Mukhang ayaw
na po, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). He has
already sat down and so…
REP. MARCOLETA. Bumalik, Mr. Speaker. Maraming
salamat po, Mr. Speaker, at maraming salamat po sa
Kinatawan ng Pangasinan.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is the
Gentleman willing to yield to some questions from the
Honorable Marcoleta?
REP. BATAOIL. Opo, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please
proceed.
REP. MARCOLETA. When the forces of Limahong, Mr.
Speaker, first appeared in the shores of this country, more
particularly in the shores of Parañaque City, as accurately
depicted by our colleague, Congressman Golez (R.), they were
repelled by our natives because the forces of Limahong at
that time were ill-equipped, or the force of Limahong was illequipped. Meaning to say, they sailed to our shores with
primitive armaments and so, the quality of forces dictated
that they could not conquer our country. Today, Mr. Speaker,
we are living in a different world, and China occupied an
important part of our territory. Mr. Speaker, China is a military
might on this side of the planet. Mayroon po silang submarine
at ang kanilang militar is not comparable to that of any country
in Asia. Kung buhay po si Gat Andres Bonifacio, Mr. Speaker,
sa palagay po ba ninyo ay magdadala siya ng isang barkong
mga tabak upang itaboy ang mga mapangahas na ating mga
kaibayo sa ating baybayin, Mr. Speaker?
REP. BATAOIL. Mr. Speaker, naniniwala po ako na kung
buhay si Gat Andres Bonifacio sa ngayon, ang kanyang
pagkatao na mapagmahal sa sariling bayan ang mananaig pa
rin sa mga panahong ito at maghihikayat ng kapwa Pilipino
na nagmamahal sa sariling bayan upang gumawa ng mga
kaparaanan na naayon sa batas at naaayon sa tamang
kaparaanan upang matugunan at maitulak o malabanan ang
mga nananakop na ito ng ating sariling bansa, Mr. Speaker.
REP. MARCOLETA. Mr. Speaker, ang kabayanihan at
pagmamahal ni Gat Bonifacio sa ating bayan kailanman ay
hindi mapag-aalinlanganan. Naipakita niya ito noon sa
kanyang panahon ngunit, Mr. Speaker, ang pinag-uusapan
natin dito ay kung sapat ba ang rubdob ng iyong pagnanasa
na ipaglaban ang iyong bayan sa harap ng mga mapangahas
na manunupil na kaibayo sa ating baybayin, sa pamamagitan
lamang ng mga tabak at sa harap ng mga naglalakihang mga
submarino, mga armas pandigma at mga modernong
kagamitan upang supilin ang kasarinlan ng isang bansa?
Ang tanong po, Mr. Speaker: gaanong kadakilaan, gaano
kalaking pagmamahal sa bayan ang kinakailangang ilabas ng
isang Andres Bonifacio upang ang pananatili ng mga dayuhan
sa ating teritoryo ay maalis natin?
REP. BATAOIL. Mr. Speaker, sa katanungang iyan, ang
aking kasagutan ay nakita ko ang makabagong Gat Andres
Bonifacio sa katauhan ng ating pinuno, ang Presidente ng
Pilipinas, at sa kanyang pinagkakatiwalaang mga pinuno na
tumutugon sa problemang iyan kung saan ay nakahanap sila
ng pamamaraan kung paano mailatag o maidulog sa tamang
korte ang problemang ito, dahil sa ikaw at ako, tayong lahat,
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
ay naniniwala na ang tabak at anumang mga kaparaanan na
hindi puwedeng itapat dito sa bansang mananakop—ito ay
hindi makakatumbas. Kaya tama po at naniniwala ako at nakita
ko ang makabagong Gat Andres Bonifacio sa katauhan ng
ating Presidente Aquino at sa kanyang mga pinuno na nag-aaddress sa problemang ito.
REP. MARCOLETA. Sa makabagong Andres Bonifacio
na nasa katauhan ng ating Pangulo, Mr. Speaker,
kinakailangan po niya ang talas ng kakayahan ng mga taong
dapat na tumulong sa kanya. Hindi po kailangan ng isang
makabagong Andres Bonifacio, na kinakatawan ng ating
Pangulo, ang ilang mga kababayan na magkakanulo sa kanya
kagaya ng ginawa kay Andres Bonifacio noong kanyang
kapanahunan, hindi po ba?
REP. BATAOIL. Tama po, Mr. Speaker, Hindi natin dapat
payagan na magkaroon ng mga kababayang magkakanulo o
maghahadlang sa makabayang hangarin ng mga makabagong
Gat Andres Bonifacio.
REP. MARCOLETA. Samakatuwid, naniniwala po kayo,
Mr. Speaker, na ang hakbang na ginawa ng ating Pangulo, na
siyang kinikilala nating makabagong Andres Bonifacio, ay
isang matalas na hakbang—ang pagpunta sa isang forum ng
United Nations upang doon ay ipagsakdal ang ginawang
panunupil ng ating kapitbahay at hindi sa pamamagitan ng
dahas, hindi sa pamamagitan ng tabak, sapagkat maski si Gat
Jose Rizal ay nagsabi na rin noong kanyang kapanahunan na
hindi isang kabayanihan ang salubungin ang isang bala kung
sa pagdaan nito ay ikaw naman ay tutumba at hindi na
makakabangon. Tama po ba iyon, Mr. Speaker?
REP. BATAOIL. Tama po, Mr. Speaker.
REP. MARCOLETA. Salamat po, Mr. Speaker.
REP. BATAOIL. Salamat po. Maraming salamat po.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Floor
Leader is recognized.
REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we refer the
speech of the Honorable Bataoil as well as the interpellations
thereon to the appropriate committee.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I request that we
acknowledge the presence of some guests.
We have the guest of Hon. Reena Concepcion G. Obillo
of Una Ang Pamilya Party-List this afternoon, Dr. Michelle
Prestoza of Phoenix, Arizona.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please
rise. Welcome to the House of Representatives. (Applause)
REP. DE VENECIA. Mr. Speaker, allow us to
acknowledge the presence of the following guests of Cong.
Jose Carlos L. Cari: PWU-JASMS Quezon City Student
15
Council Officers, Batch 2012-2013, headed by President
Chelsea Telly Therese A. Delvo and accompanied by advisers:
Teachers Lisa Ramos, Ellen Villasoto and Emy Silvano.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please
rise. You are all welcome to the House of Representatives.
(Applause)
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, may we be allowed to
acknowledge the presence of the guests of the honorable Cong.
Emil L. Ong: the officials coming from the municipality of Las
Navas, Northern Samar led by its Mayor, Minda Tan, and Vice
Mayor Artet Tan, as well as councilors and barangay captains.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Welcome
to the House of Representatives. (Applause)
REP. QUIMBO. Maupay nga kulop ha iyo nga tanan.
Mr. Speaker, I move that we now recognize Hon. Carlos
M. Padilla from the Lone District of Nueva Vizcaya to deliver
his question of privilege.
I so move, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
Gentleman from Nueva Vizcaya may please proceed.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. PADILLA
REP. PADILLA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker and esteemed colleagues:
I rise on a question of personal and collective privilege
to express my disgust and bring to public attention a major
controversy hounding the two highest officials of our
province, Nueva Vizcaya. They are no less than Governor
Luisa Lloren Cuaresma and Vice Governor Jose V. Gambito
Jr. The controversy facing these two officials is detrimental
to the interest of the people of Nueva Vizcaya and to our
province, and highlights the misgovernance and lack of moral
ascendancy of Governor Cuaresma and Vice Governor
Gambito. The controversy is the so-called “Luyot” scandal.
“Luyot” is the local term in Nueva Vizcaya for mine tailing
resulting from small-scale mining operations.
It has come to my attention that the issuance of the permit
to transport “luyot” has become a milking cow of Governor
Cuaresma and Vice Governor Gambito who are mainly
responsible for issuing the transport permits.
There are two types of permits being issued for the
transport of “luyot.” One is the temporary Ore Transport
Permit (OTP) which is required if the “luyot” transport will
be done within Nueva Vizcaya. The other one is an Ore
Transport Permit which is needed if the delivery is to be done
outside of Nueva Vizcaya.
It is the governor that issues the Ore Transport Permit in
Nueva Vizcaya but she eventually delegated this authority to
Vice Governor Gambito through a memorandum dated
October 26, 2010. Vice Governor Gambito is also in charge
of issuing the temporary Ore Transport Permit. This in itself
is questionable. Can the vice governor exercise an executive
function? Normally, he can do so when he is acting as
governor.
16
According to reports, the provincial government charges
P225,000 or P9 for every kilo of “luyot” to be transported,
which was later raised to P10 per kilo. The usual haul per
truckload of “luyot” is 25 metric tons or 25,000 kilos, so if
we multiply this by P10, it is equivalent to P250,000 per
truckload. However, there is no official acknowledgment from
the provincial government of the P250,000 payment by the
“luyot” transporter. What is only being acknowledged is the
P10,000 mineral tax paid by the ore transporter through an
official receipt issued by the Office of the Treasurer of Nueva
Vizcaya.
By computation, Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues,
if we subtract P10,000 from P250,000, that leaves an
unaccounted amount of P240,000 per truckload of transported
“luyot.” So, if there are 10 truckload shipments per day, that
would amount to a daily illegal collection of P2.4 million on
the part of some enterprising provincial authorities—a
monthly illegal collection of P72 million and a whopping
P864 million yearly, which when compared to the P70 million
yearly PDAF of a Congressman renders the PDAF miniscule,
Mr. Speaker.
One permitee from Barangay Quezon, Solano, Nueva
Vizcaya is a dummy business partner of Vice Governor
Gambito.
Most of the official receipts identified Alimit and Didipio,
two barangays in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, as the sources of
“luyot.” Yet, nobody has been authorized to do small-scale
mining in these two barangays, so that this is another violation.
On the other hand, records of the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau (MGB) show that there are no permittees in Didipio
and Alimit, which means that the “luyot” operations there are
plain and simply illegal.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mario Ancheta, the OIC Regional
Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau wrote to
Governor Cuaresma on June 4, 2012, recommending that
stoppage orders be issued to small-scale mining permittees
including Gambito’s dummy, all operating in Sitio Burburnay,
Barangay Bonifacio, municipality of Quezon as the MGB
found out that they were using heavy equipment in the
operations on areas covered by their small-scale mining
permits. Director Ancheta cited that small-scale mining
operations under PD No. 1899 and/or Republic Act No. 7076
prohibit the use of heavy equipment.
Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, there are other
scandals and controversies facing Governor Cuaresma and
Vice Governor Gambito. But in the meantime, I had to focus
on the “luyot” scandal because of the hundreds of millions of
missing revenues of the province. Of course, there are talks
that the illegal partnership of the two is not only limited to
“luyot” and jueteng but extends to other immoral activities
too.
In the spirit of accountability and transparency, which is
the main advocacy of the Aquino government, we challenge
Governor Cuaresma and Vice Governor Gambito to account
for the hundreds of millions of transport permit fees they have
illegally collected from the transport of “luyot” since 2010.
These missing transport collections should have been properly
accounted for and used to generate livelihood projects, build
more classrooms for our students, provide more scholarship
programs for our youth, and improve our roads and for other
infrastructure needs. Instead, these funds simply vanished into
thin air to the detriment of the people of Nueva Vizcaya.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
In ending, Mr. Speaker and esteemed colleagues, I urge
the proper government agencies like the Commission on
Audit, and Department of the Interior and Local Government
to immediately look into the “luyot” controversy and make
Governor Cuaresma and Vice Governor Gambito accountable
for their wrongdoing to give justice to the people of Nueva
Vizcaya.
Thank you and good afternoon.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Floor
Leader is recognized.
REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognize
the Hon. Ben P. Evardone.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
Gentleman from Samar is recognized.
REP. EVARDONE. Will the Gentleman from Nueva
Vizcaya yield to a few questions, Mr. Speaker?
REP. PADILLA. Willingly, Mr. Speaker, to the
distinguished Gentleman from Eastern Samar.
REP. EVARDONE. First of all, Mr. Speaker, I would
like to congratulate our colleague from Nueva Vizcaya for
exposing the issue on mining in his province. I would just
like to know, Mr. Speaker, did I correctly hear the Gentleman
say that the issuance of the Ore Transport Permit was
delegated to the vice governor?
REP. PADILLA. Yes, Mr. Speaker, in fact, most of the
permits that came to the possession of this Representation
were surrendered by “luyot” traders themselves because they
were complaining of the illegal collection done by some
officials in Nueva Vizcaya. The bulk of the documents were
signed by the vice governor, Mr. Speaker.
REP. EVARDONE. Mr. Speaker, does the Gentleman
think it is legal to delegate the authority to issue an Ore
Transport Permit? Because I remember when I was still a
governor, it was only the DENR Secretary who was authorized
to issue an Ore Transport Permit, but per representations of
the League of Governors, the DENR Secretary agreed to
delegate it to the governors. But before an Ore Transport
Permit can be issued by the government, it has to be cleared
first with the DENR Secretary. What is the situation in Nueva
Vizcaya, Mr. Speaker?
REP. PADILLA. First, because there were two points
raised in that question of our esteemed colleague from
Eastern Samar on whether the governor can delegate it to
the vice governor, I doubt the legality of that act of
delegation. The first reason is that the vice governor
exercises legislative functions. Perhaps, he can do it if the
governor is out and the vice governor is there in acting
capacity as governor. But doing it as a plain vice governor
in the presence of the governor, I doubt the legality of
that. Second, the Gentleman from Eastern Samar is correct
that we need some kind of clearance, and the DENR memo
order which spells out the guidelines, Mr. Speaker, uses
the term “confirmation.”
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
REP. EVARDONE. Confirmation—that is correct, Mr.
Speaker.
REP. PADILLA. Mr. Speaker, confirmation involves the
subject of my speech which is small-scale mining. This was
further delegated by the MGB director to the regional director
of the MGB in our area and happens also in any part of the
country for that matter, Mr. Speaker.
REP. EVARDONE. So, that process or those transactions
are very questionable, Mr. Speaker.
17
several permits and the permittees were operating outside
the permitted area using heavy equipment. But when the
DENR issued a cease-and-desist order, the order was not
honored by the Governor, Mr. Speaker.
REP. PADILLA. That is why I was quite vigilant and
persistent, Mr. Speaker. So, when I saw the letter of the
Regional Director urging the Governor to issue a stoppage
order, I saw to it that really, on the ground, there were no
operations done after that incident, Mr. Speaker.
REP. EVARDONE. So, their operations stopped, Mr. Speaker.
REP. PADILLA. Very questionable from A to Z, Mr.
Speaker. Normally, when an Ore Transport Permit is issued,
the signature of the governor or the vice governor, for that
matter, is not sufficient. The DENR memo says it must be
countersigned by the regional MGB director. I have examined
all the documents, signed by Governor Cuaresma or Vice
Governor Gambito, wala pong confirmation at countersign
ang MGB regional director.
REP. EVARDONE. Based on your investigation, Mr.
Speaker, in Nueva Vizcaya, they are operating outside the
area where the small-scale mining permits were issued. Is
that correct?
REP. PADILLA. That is correct, Mr. Speaker, because
the permittee, who is used as a dummy by the two officials,
has for his area of operation Sitio Burburnay, Barangay
Bonifacio, Quezon, and he was given a permit to extract
manganese mineral products. But the source of the so-called
“luyot,” which is our local term for the mine tailings is in
Barangay Didipio and Barangay Alimit in the municipality
of Kasibu. So, the permit is for an area which is many, many
kilometers away from where the actual source of the “luyot,”
Mr. Speaker.
REP. EVARDONE. Mr. Speaker, the Gentleman said that
the operator of the mining concession is using heavy
equipment?
REP. PADILLA. That is correct, Mr. Speaker.
REP. EVARDONE. That is illegal under the Small-Scale
Mining Law.
REP. PADILLA. Thank you for that statement, Mr.
Speaker.
This Representation wrote the MGB about this condition
in that particular part of Nueva Vizcaya in Sitio Burburnay,
Barangay Bonifacio, Quezon. And truly, when a team of the
MGB inspected the area, they saw with their own eyes the
use of heavy equipment. So, subsequently, to the credit of the
MGB Regional Director, he immediately told in writing the
governor of Nueva Vizcaya to issue a stoppage order.
Now, I asked, “Why did he write the governor; why did he
not do it himself?” He said, he did it out of courtesy considering
that the original small-scale mining permit or permits given to
these operators in the area were issued by the governor.
REP. EVARDONE. That situation is, I think, very similar
to that in the province of Eastern Samar. The governor issued
REP. PADILLA. Yes, insofar as that area; however,
because the actual source of the “luyot,” insofar as for the
people in our area the “luyot” is mine tailings, if we apply
again the DENR memo which was mentioned by our colleague
from Eastern Samar—the authority to issue small-scale mining
permits including mineral ore export permits delegated to
the governor, it says there, “excluding mining tailings”—so
if “luyot” is plain and simple mine tailings, what they are
doing is also illegal. But the transport of “luyot” is being
legitimized because of that Ore Transport Permit issued by
the Governor. The trucks, before they reach their destination,
have to be brought outside of Nueva Vizcaya because it is so
lucrative to sell the “luyot” outside the province. Wala pong
pakinabang kung nandoon lang sa probinsya.
Mr. Speaker, what happens is, all the way, in spite of
several checkpoints, nakakaraan po ang trak dahil kasi ang
mga PNP at mga ENRO na nasa checkpoints, they are also
directly reporting to the Office of the Governor. So, at face
value, given any document by the traders coming from the
Office of the Governor, no questions are asked as far as those
manning the checkpoints are concerned.
REP. EVARDONE. Mr. Speaker, our legal luminary in
the House has just confirmed that an authority delegated
cannot be further delegated, according to the distinguished
Gentleman from Cebu, Hon. Pabling Garcia.
REP. PADILLA. Yes, I agree with that observation.
Perhaps, that constitutes undue delegation of power, Mr.
Speaker.
REP. EVARDONE. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I also thank the Gentleman from Nueva Vizcaya.
REP. PADILLA. Thank you also, Mr. Speaker, and I do
appreciate the interpellation made by our colleague, the
Honorable Evardone, from Eastern Samar. Maraming salamat
po, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Floor
Leader is recognized.
REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we refer the
speech of the Hon. Carlos M. Padilla, as well as the
interpellation, to the appropriate committee.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
18
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognize
the Hon. Kimi S. Cojuangco from the Fifth District of
Pangasinan.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
distinguished Lady from Pangasinan may now take the floor.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF
REP. COJUANGCO (K.)
REP. COJUANGCO (K.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, I would like to bring
to your attention an incident which gave rise to an issue that
can hinder the free exercise of the right to freedom of speech
and expression.
On September 30, 2010, Carlos Celdran, dressed as
national hero Jose Rizal, entered the Manila Cathedral
in the middle of an on-going meeting, walked near the
altar and raised a sign bearing the word “Damaso.” He
shouted, “Stop meddling in politics!” as he was being
escorted out by the police. Later in the evening,
Monsignor Cerbo filed charges against Celdran for
violation of Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code, for
offending religious feelings.
On January 28, 2013, the Manila Metropolitan Trial
Court convicted Carlos Celdran of the charges. Public
reaction, mostly against the verdict, was immediate and
instantaneous. Again, the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy
is subjected to severe criticisms. Again, we find the Church
further alienated from the people when it should be time for
the healing process to begin.
An online petition was launched, calling for the freeing
of Carlos Celdran, and the protection of rights and freedom
of Filipinos, and on the President to grant Executive clemency,
and on Congress to repeal Article 133.
This was sent to my office within a week’s time when
this petition was signed by more than 4,500 individuals.
This Representation has no intention of usurping the duty
of the courts or discussing in detail the legal merits of the
Celdran case and, ultimately, trusting the court’s justice system
to resolve the case. But the case of Carlos Celdran has brought
up an issue that needs to be addressed, particularly in this
situation where Article 133 has penalized one man for availing
himself of his constitutional right, namely, the right to free
speech and expression.
Let us not forget that Celdran is a known reproductive
health advocate and his act happened in the midst of very
heated debates on the RH Bill. His action, unconventional as
it was, made more people realize and confront the political
meddling the Catholic Church hierarchy has been doing on
the issue of the RH Bill.
Was it not a political exercise when priests took to the
pulpit to attack the merits of the RH Bill and threaten
government officials, including lawmakers with defeat in the
upcoming elections? Did the Catholic Bishops of the
Philippines not engage in politics when they held press
conferences and issued pastoral letters in opposition to the
RH Bill and its advocates?
Every Filipino priest, just like every Filipino layperson,
is entitled to his or her own opinion on issues, political or
otherwise. That is democracy. Its essence is freedom of
expression.
When we put in the open our political opinions, do we
not open ourselves to the possibility of political criticism?
So, when the Church continuously opposed the RH Bill, was
it not in Celdran’s right to counter that position?
Article III, Section 5, of our Constitution grants that every
Filipino has the right to freedom of religion, the right to follow
any religious organization or Church, if they so desire. But
when a religious organization or Church engages in politics,
which is a secular exercise, does Section 5 of Article III still
protect them from the criticisms that come with this secular
exercise? Once the Church comes out with their political
stance, this does not put them on equal footing with any
ordinary citizen who has an opinion on this matter. In this
case, in a political setting, does Section 5 of Article III provide
protection? Is Article III, Section 5 not confined to belief in
religious dogma, teachings and doctrines, not political or
secular activities?
When a person expresses a political opinion, he or she is
availing of the constitutionally granted right to freedom of
speech and expression.
When a Church puts forth its stance on a political matter,
is it not also availing of that same right? Any opposition to
their political stance is equally an expression of this freedom
of speech and expression, but if any person responds to or
criticizes a Church’s political opinion, either by speech or
expression, like what Carlos Celdran did, is that really a
violation of Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code? Was
Celdran not availing of the very same freedom of speech or
expression that the Church used?
I understand that Article 133 on Offending Religious
Feelings is considered one of the crimes against the
fundamental rights of the State because it violates Article III,
Section 4 of the Bill of Rights. However, this very same law
can be used as a tool to suppress the freedom of speech and
expression when it is abused.
Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution states:
No law shall be passed abridging the freedom
of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right
of people peaceably to assemble and petition the
government for redress of grievances.
Does Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code trump
freedom of speech and expression considering that Article
III, Section 4 is a prohibition on prior restraint on this
constitutional right?
Article 133 has been in existence since the time of the
Spanish occupation, an era when our people were not free to
express opinion and dissent. Did our heroes not offer their
lives so we are granted this freedom?
The Celdran case brought to our attention a law that many
did not even know existed. People are continuously weighing
in on the issue. Opinions vary. Some want the law repealed
for going against the Constitution. There are those who say
that given the current times, the penalty which Article 133
imposes, arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision
correccional in its minimum period, is too harsh for anyone
reacting to a Church’s political stand. Still others say that if
Article 133 is to be retained, clear standards should be in
place to prevent it from being abused.
Our people are asking us, legislators, to look closely at
Article 133.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
In the light of the Celdran case, perhaps, it is time for
Congress to review this law. Whatever Congress does,
people’s right to freedom of speech and expression must be
protected and upheld.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
19
of the particular case, and why it was decided against
Carlos Celdran; but what I do know is that Carlos Celdran
was not violating or hurting or going against any religious
dogma. He was simply venting, using his freedom of
expression on his frustrations with Church meddling in
affairs of the State.
REP. APOSTOL. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Floor
Leader is recognized.
REP. APOSTOL. Mr. Speaker. I am here to your left.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). What is
the pleasure of the Gentleman from Leyte?
REP. APOSTOL. May I know if the Lady will allow some
interpellations coming from this Representation.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
distinguished Lady may yield, if she so desires.
REP. COJUANGCO (K.). Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will yield
to his interpellation.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please
proceed.
REP. APOSTOL. May I know if the Revised Penal Code
is not an exception to the provision of the Constitution.
REP. COJUANGCO (K.). Mr. Speaker, I am not a lawyer,
so maybe if the Gentleman, Congressman Apostol, would like
to help me with that, I really do not know.
REP. APOSTOL. Well, anyway, I will not argue with the
beautiful Lady on that because the beautiful Lady, I think, is
aware of the provision of the Revised Penal Code.
Now, second, the beautiful Lady is also questioning the
actions of the members of the CBCP in interfering in political
affairs of this country.
May I know if the beautiful Lady is aware that these
bishops are Filipinos.
REP. COJUANGCO (K.). Of course, I am very aware
that they are. They are members of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines.
REP. APOSTOL. Since they are Filipinos, do they not
have the right to exercise their political freedom?
REP. COJUANGCO (K.). Mr. Speaker, exactly, as I
stated in my privilege speech that once they exercise their
right to freedom of expression on a secular matter, they
open themselves up to criticism from others. So, in other
words, they are acting as Filipino citizens, not as Church
people. That is the way I see it, and this is my opinion, Mr.
Speaker.
REP. APOSTOL. I agree with your opinion that a Filipino
can exercise his political freedom irrespective of whether he
is a member of a religious group or not. So, I am through,
Mr. Speaker, I was only curious of the speech.
REP. APOSTOL. Of course, ...
REP. COJUANGCO (K.). Honestly.
REP. APOSTOL. I think the Speaker is aware, despite
the fact that he is talking on his cellphone, that the Revised
Penal Code is an exception to the Constitution of this country,
and when the Revised Penal Code says that disturbance of
religious rights is a penal offense, that is an exception to the
provision of the Constitution. May I know if the beautiful
Lady agrees.
REP. COJUANGCO (K.). Mr. Speaker, what I do not
agree to is that, to begin with, there was no religious rite or
there was no mass going on. There was a meeting regarding a
project—a Bible project. So, what really happened there is
that it started raining outside, so Carlos Celdran found himself
inside the church to seek cover from the rain. He walked
around the church. This was told to me, by the way or I read
about this, by the way, in an article where Christian Monsod
spoke of the events of the day because he happened to be in
the Church. Apparently, he quietly walked around the Church
holding that “Damaso” sign. And not many people who were
attending a very small meeting even noticed him. He only
became noticeable when he was near the exit of the Church
door and the police grabbed him and pulled him out and that
was when he shouted. So, I do not really understand the merits
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). What is
the last statement of the Gentleman from Leyte?
REP. APOSTOL. Well, I am through with the
interpellation…
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Very
good.
REP. APOSTOL. …and I am thanking Cong. Kimi
Cojuangco for allowing me to interpellate her.
REP. COJUANGCO (K.). I also thank the Gentleman
from Leyte, Congressman Apostol, the handsome Gentleman
from Leyte. Thank you po.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is he still
handsome at this time? (Laughter)
REP. COJUANGCO (K.). Yes, he still is. Is that all, Mr.
Speaker?
REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Floor
Leader is recognized.
20
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we refer the
speech of the Hon. Kimi S. Cojuangco, as well as the
interpellation, to the appropriate committee.
At this juncture, Miss Janine Tugonon, escorted by Rep.
Rodolfo C. Fariñas, ascended the rostrum. (Applause)
THE SPEAKER. The Majority Leader is recognized.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there
any objection?
REP. APOSTOL. Point of order, objection, Mr. Speaker.
May I know if we have an appropriate committee in this
Body and who is the chairman of that appropriate committee.
SUSPENSION OF SESSION
REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, in order to allow
our Members to extend their personal congratulations to Miss
Janine Tugonon, I move that we suspend our session for a
few minutes.
SUSPENSION OF SESSION
THE SPEAKER. The session is suspended.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The
session is suspended.
It was 5:33 p.m.
RESUMPTION OF SESSION
At 5:35 p.m., the session was resumed with the Speaker
presiding.
THE SPEAKER. The session is resumed.
The Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, to accommodate
the manifestation of the distinguished Gentleman from Leyte,
the Honorable Apostol, may I move that we refer the speech
of the distinguished Lady from Pangasinan, the Hon. Kimi S.
Cojuangco, together with the interpellation, to the Committee
on Rules. I so move, Mr. Speaker.
THE SPEAKER. Is there any objection? (Silence) The
Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, yesterday, February
5, 2013, the House adopted House Resolution No. 2981,
entitled: RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING AND
COMMENDING JANINE TUGONON FOR PLACING
FIRST RUNNER-UP IN THE 2012 MISS UNIVERSE
PAGEANT, in consolidation with House Resolutions No.
2983 and 2984.
Mr. Speaker, we are privileged to have here today Ms.
Janine Tugonon to receive a copy of the aforementioned
resolution. May I request that Ms. Tugonon be invited to
ascend to the Speaker’s rostrum while the Secretary General
reads the title and the text of House Resolution No. 2981.
May we request the Hon. Rodolfo C. Fariñas to escort Ms.
Tugonon as she ascends the Speaker’s rostrum.
I so move, Mr. Speaker.
THE SPEAKER. Yes, we welcome and invite Ms. Janine
Tugonon, escorted by our eligible Member, Honorable
Fariñas, to ascend the rostrum. (Applause)
The Secretary General is directed to read the title of
House Resolution No. 2981.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. Resolution No. 324,
entitled: RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING AND
COMMENDING JANINE TUGONON FOR PLACING FIRST
RUNNER-UP IN THE 2012 MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT.
It was 5:40 p.m.
RESUMPTION OF SESSION
At 5:44 p.m., the session was resumed with Rep. Janette
L. Garin presiding.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The
session is resumed.
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, I would like to
acknowledge the presence of the guests of the honorable
Cong. Kaka J. Bag-ao from the province of Dinagat Islands:
Vice Mayor Fely Pedrablanca from the municipality of
Tubajon; Honorable Ecleo; Hon. Ricky Salcedo, Member,
Sangguniang Panlalawigan; Noli Abis and Nene Elago.
(Applause)
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Welcome
to the House of the People.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No.
6779 and Senate Bill No. 3021, which seek to create an
additional branch of the Regional Trial Court in the province
of Isabela.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and Hon. Napoleon S. Dy, Sponsor and author of House Bill
No. 6779, are in concurrence with the provisions of Senate
Bill No. 3021.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our Rules, I move
that we adopt Senate Bill No. 3021 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6779.
I so move.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3021 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6779.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No.
6800 and Senate Bill No. 3033, which seek to create an
additional branch of the RTC in the city of Danao, province
of Cebu.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and Hon. Ramon H. Durano VI, Sponsor of House Bill No.
6800, concur with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3033.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our Rules, I move
that we adopt Senate Bill No. 3033 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6800.
I so move.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3033 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6800.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 5910
and Senate Bill No. 3019, which seek to create an additional
branch of the Regional Trial Court in the city of Cotabato,
province of Maguindanao.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and Hon. Bai Sandra A. Sema, Sponsor and author of House
Bill No. 5910, concur with the provisions of Senate Bill No.
3019.
In accordance with our Rules, I move that we adopt Senate
Bill No. 3019 as an amendment to House Bill No. 5910.
I so move.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3019 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 5910.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6849
and Senate Bill No. 3037, which seek to create an additional
branch of the RTC in the municipality of Talibon, province
of Bohol.
We have been informed that the Justice Committee and
the Sponsor of House Bill No. 6849 concur with the provisions
of Senate Bill No. 3037.
In accordance with our Rules, I move that we adopt
Senate Bill No. 3037 as an amendment to House Bill No.
6849.
I so move.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3037 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6849.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 5659
and Senate Bill No. 3058, which seek to create two additional
branches of the Regional Trial Court in the city of Urdaneta,
province of Pangasinan.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Kimi S. Cojuangco, Sponsor and author of House
21
Bill No. 5659, concur with the provisions of Senate Bill No.
3058.
In accordance with our Rules, Mme. Speaker, I move
that we adopt Senate Bill No. 3058 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 5659.
I so move.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; Senate Bill
No. 3058 is hereby adopted as an amendment to House Bill
No. 5659.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, the Senate passed with
amendments House Bill No. 799, entitled: AN ACT
RENAMING THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES AGRIBUSINESS AND MARINE AND AQUATIC SCHOOL OF
TECHNOLOGY (SPAMAST) INTO DAVAO DEL SUR
STATE COLLEGE (DSSC);
House Bill No. 5913, entitled: AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE
UNIVERSITY IN THE PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL
NORTE BY INTEGRATING THE SURIGAO STATE
COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY IN SURIGAO CITY, THE
SIARGAO NATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF DEL
CARMEN AND THE SURIGAO DEL NORTE COLLEGE
OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF MAINIT, ALL LOCATED IN THE
PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL NORTE, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR;
House Bill No. 2697, entitled: AN ACT CHANGING
THE NAME OF LAZI NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
SCHOOL IN BARANGAY TIGBAWAN, MUNICIPALITY
OF LAZI, PROVINCE OF SIQUIJOR INTO LAZI
TECHNICAL INSTITUTE;
House Bill No. 5914, entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING
THE COTABATO CITY STATE POLYTECHNIC
COLLEGE IN COTABATO CITY INTO A STATE
UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE COTABATO
STATE UNIVERSITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR;
House Bill No. 4183, entitled: AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A STATE COLLEGE IN THE CITY OF
TALISAY, PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWN AS THE
TALISAY
CITY
STATE
COLLEGE
AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR;
House Bill No. 4431, entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING
THE ILOILO STATE COLLEGE OF FISHERIES IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF BAROTAC NUEVO, PROVINCE OF
ILOILO INTO A STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN
AS THE ILOILO STATE UNIVERSITY OF FISHERIES
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, WITH CAMPUSES IN
THE MUNICIPALITIES OF SAN ENRIQUE, DINGLE
AND DUMANGAS, AND INTEGRATING THEREWITH
THE BAROTAC NUEVO POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE IN
THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAROTAC NUEVO, ALL
LOCATED IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOILO AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR;
House Bill No. 4448, entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING
THE MINDORO STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
22
VICTORIA, PROVINCE OF ORIENTAL MINDORO INTO
A STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE
ORIENTAL MINDORO STATE UNIVERSITY AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR;
House Bill No. 4449, entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING
THE MOUNTAIN PROVINCE STATE POLYTECHNIC
COLLEGE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BONTOC,
MOUNTAIN PROVINCE INTO A STATE UNIVERSITY
TO BE KNOWN AS THE MOUNTAIN PROVINCE STATE
UNIVERSITY, WITH CAMPUSES IN THE
MUNICIPALITIES OF TADIAN, BAUKO, PARACELIS
AND BARLIG, ALL LOCATED IN MOUNTAIN
PROVINCE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR;
House Bill No. 4450, entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING
THE PAMPANGA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE (PAC)
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MAGALANG, PROVINCE
OF PAMPANGA INTO A STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE
KNOWN AS THE DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL
AGRICULTURE AND SCIENCE STATE UNIVERSITY
(DMASSU) AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR;
House Bill No. 4585, entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING
THE KALINGA-APAYAO STATE COLLEGE IN THE
CITY OF TABUK, PROVINCE OF KALINGA INTO A
STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE KALINGA
STATE UNIVERSITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR;
House Bill No. 4586, entitled: AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A STATE COLLEGE IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF COMPOSTELA, PROVINCE OF
COMPOSTELA VALLEY TO BE KNOWN AS THE
COMPOSTELA VALLEY STATE COLLEGE,
INTEGRATING THEREWITH AS REGULAR
BRANCHES THE BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY
EXTERNAL STUDIES CENTERS IN THE
MUNICIPALITIES OF MONKAYO, MARAGUSAN,
MONTEVISTA AND NEW BATAAN, ALL LOCATED IN
THE PROVINCE OF COMPOSTELA VALLEY AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR; and
House Bill No. 4641, entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING
THE PALOMPON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF PALOMPON, PROVINCE OF LEYTE
INTO A STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE
PALOMPON POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY,
INTEGRATING THEREWITH THE MARCELINO R.
VELOSO NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF TABANGO, PROVINCE OF LEYTE
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.
Mme. Speaker, we have been informed that the
Committee on Higher and Technical Education, and the
respective authors have no objections to the amendments of
the Senate to the same.
In accordance with our Rules, Mme. Speaker, I move
that we concur with the Senate amendments to House Bills
No. 799, 5913, 2697, 5914, 4183, 4431, 4448, 4449, 4450,
4585, 4586 and 4641.
I so move.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, the Senate passed with
amendments House Bill No. 4253, entitled: AN ACT
RENAMING THE PALAWAN POLICE PROVINCIAL
OFFICE TO CAMP HIGINIO ACOSTA MENDOZA SR.
We have been informed that the Committee on Public
Order and Safety, as well as Hon. Victorino Dennis M. Socrates,
Sponsor and author of House Bill No. 4253, have no objection
to the amendments of the Senate to the said House bill.
Therefore, Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our Rules,
I move that we concur with the Senate amendments to House
Bill No. 4253.
I so move.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, I would like to
acknowledge the presence of the visitor of Cong. Jose S.
Aquino II: Councilor Nemia Alegarbes of Butuan City.
(Applause)
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). May we
request the honorable guest to please rise. Welcome to the
House of Representatives. (Applause)
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, I move that we proceed
to the Additional Reference of Business.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Secretary General will please read the Additional
Reference of Business.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCE OF BUSINESS
The Secretary General read the following House Bills
and Resolutions on First Reading, and Committee Reports,
and the Presiding Officer made the corresponding references:
BILLS ON FIRST READING
House Bill No. 6910, entitled:
“AN ACT SEPARATING SITIOS PALILIHAN,
POHAGAN AND POYAWON OF BARANGAY
MAHANUB, GIGAQUIT, SURIGAO DEL
NORTE AND CONSTITUTING THEM INTO A
SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT BARANGAY
TO BE KNOWN AS BARANGAY STO. NIÑO”
By Representatives Matugas and Romarate
TO THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
House Bill No. 6911, entitled:
“AN ACT CREATING THE DAVAO PORT
AUTHORITY, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING APPROPRIATION
THEREFORE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”
By Representatives Mendoza (R.) and Lagdameo (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
23
RESOLUTIONS
House Joint Resolution No. 41, entitled:
“JOINT RESOLUTION DECLARING OCTOBER 8
OF EVERY YEAR AS A NATIONAL SPECIAL
WORKING HOLIDAY TO COMMEMORATE
THE ‘DIA DEL GALEON’ ”
By Representative Ocampo
TO THE COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF LAWS
House Resolution No. 3030, entitled:
“RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON
NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT AN
INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, INTO THE
MAPPING STANDARDS, INSTRUMENTS AND
PROCEDURES BEING EMPLOYED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND
NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR) IN ITS
SURVEYING, MAPPING AND LAND
CLASSIFICATION AND RECLASSIFICATION
ACTIVITIES”
By Representatives Matugas and Romarate
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 3031, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON BASES CONVERSION TO
CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF
LEGISLATION, ON THE CONTROVERSY
SURROUNDING THE CLARK DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL
IN CONNECTION WITH THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT SIGNED BY
BOTH PARTIES”
By Representative Lazatin
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 3032, entitled:
“RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN
UPHOLDING THE INTEREST OF THE
FILIPINO PEOPLE AGAINST FARE HIKES AND
PRIVATIZATION OF THE LIGHT RAIL
TRANSIT (LRT) AND THE METRO RAIL
TRANSIT (MRT)”
By Representative Casiño
TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
House Resolution No. 3033, entitled:
“RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LATE
CONGRESSMAN ERICO B. AUMENTADO
FOR HIS EXEMPLARY AND INVALUABLE
CONTRIBUTIONS AS MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE AND AS CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE
ON
ETHICS
AND
PRIVILEGES”
By Representatives Romualdez, Cosalan, Antonino,
Tupas, Fortuno, Jaafar, Gatchalian, Arquiza, SyAlvarado, Mercado (R.), Abad, Catamco, Fua,
Albano and Pangandaman (N.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 3034, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING BATO
BALANI FOUNDATION, INC. IN ITS 22ND
ANNIVERSARY ON MARCH 6, 2013”
By Representative Golez (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report by the Special Committee on Reforestation
(Committee Report No. 2696), re Privilege Speech No.
369, entitled:
“ON THE CURRENT REFORESTATION PROGRAM
IN MINDANAO”
informing the House of its findings and
recommendations
Sponsors: Representatives Yu and Romualdo
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
Report by the Committee on Cooperatives Development
(Committee Report No. 2697), re H. No. 6912,
entitled:
“AN ACT REORGANIZING THE COOPERATIVE
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, REPEALING
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6939,
CREATING
THE
COOPERATIVE
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY”
recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill
Nos. 1699, 1723, 2354, 3955 and 4611
Sponsors: Representatives Ping-ay, Paez and
Rodriguez (R.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin J.). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
RATIFICATION OF CONF. CTTEE. RPT.
ON H.B. NO. 5627 AND S.B. NO. 3317
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, we are in receipt of the
Bicameral Conference Committee Report reconciling the
disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 5627 and Senate
Bill No. 3317.
May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read
only the titles of the measures.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Secretary General is directed to read only the titles
of the measures.
With the permission of the Body, and since copies
of the Conference Committee Report have been
previously distributed, the Secretary General read
only the titles of the measures without prejudice to
inserting the text of the report in the Congressional
Record.
24
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5627,
entitled: AN ACT PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS, PROVIDING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES, and Senate Bill No. 3317, entitled: AN
ACT PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF INTERNALLY
DISPLACED PERSONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we ratify the
said Bicameral Conference Committee Report.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Bicameral Conference Committee Report is
approved.
RATIFICATION OF CONF. CTTEE. RPT.
ON H.B. NO. 6565 AND S.B. NO. 3123
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, we are in receipt of the
Bicameral Conference Committee Report reconciling the
disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 6565 and Senate
Bill No. 3123.
May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read
only the titles of the measures.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Secretary General is directed to read only the titles
of the measures.
With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the
Conference Committee Report have been previously
distributed, the Secretary General read only the titles of the
measures without prejudice to inserting the text of the report
in the Congressional Record.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6565,
entitled: AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE
ANTI-MONEY LAUDERING LAW, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9160, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE “ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ACT
OF 2001,” AS AMENDED, and Senate Bill No. 3123,
entitled: AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE
ANTI-MONEY LAUDERING LAW, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9160, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE “ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ACT
OF 2001,” AS AMENDED.
RATIFICATION OF CONF. CTTEE. RPT.
ON H.B. NO. 6542 AND S.B. NO. 3312
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, we are in receipt of the
Bicameral Conference Committee Report reconciling the
disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 6542 and Senate
Bill No. 3312.
May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read
only the titles of the measures.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Secretary General is directed to read only the titles
of the measures.
With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the
Conference Committee Report have been previously
distributed, the Secretary General read only the titles of the
measures without prejudice to inserting the text of the report
in the Congressional Record.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6542,
entitled: AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9189,
ENTITLED: “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF
OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING BY QUALIFIED
CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES ABROAD,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES,” and Senate Bill No. 3123, entitled:
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9189
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “OVERSEAS ABSENTEE
VOTING ACT OF 2003.”
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we ratify the
said Bicameral Conference Committee Report.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Bicameral Conference Committee Report is
approved.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
SUSPENSION OF SESSION
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, I move for a few minutes
suspension of the session.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The
session is suspended.
It was 5:54 p.m.
REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we ratify the
said Bicameral Conference Committee Report.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Bicameral Conference Committee Report is
approved.
* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)
RESUMPTION OF SESSION
At 5:54 p.m., the session was resumed.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The
session is resumed.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
REP. QUIMBO. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize
the honorable Deputy Speaker Pablo P. Garcia from Cebu.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The
honorable Deputy Speaker Pablo P. Garcia is hereby
recognized.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. GARCIA (P.)
REP. GARCIA (P.). Thank you, Mme Speaker; thank
you, Dep. Majority Leader.
Mme. Speaker and my distinguished colleagues in the
House:
Undoubtedly, the political season in our country has set
in and the hot topic of the day is politics.
Politics is like a two-faced coin. One face, a pretty one,
depicts politics as an art or a science for the promotion of
good, efficient and responsive government. I daresay, and
perhaps without fear of successful contradiction, that this is
the kind of politics embraced by all of us here in this Chamber.
The other face is an ugly one because it depicts politics as an
instrument of harassment, persecution or for the attainment
of selfish and ignoble ends.
Mme. Speaker, shortly before Christmas of last year, the
people of the province of Cebu were shocked and horrified
to see the other face of politics in all its ugliness. Their duly
elected three-term governor was suddenly and illegally
ordered suspended from office upon the recommendation of
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The suspension was for a maximum period of six months or
for the remaining period of her third term in office, so that
for all intents and purposes, the suspension amounted to a
virtual dismissal from office.
What was the reason or the basis for the DILG
recommendation? Was it for graft and corruption or any other
crime committed by the governor? No, Sir. No, Madam. It
was an administrative case for alleged abuse of authority filed
by the Vice Governor, shortly after the 2010 election, against
the Governor. After the filing of the case, the Vice Governor
died. The Vice Governor who succeeded him—she was a
board member who succeeded him as vice governor—did
not want to prosecute the case. So, the case ought to have
been dismissed, but the DILG proceeded to investigate the
case. The investigation was terminated on August 31, 2011.
Section 66 of the Local Government Code states, and I
quote:
The investigation of the case [meaning, the case
against an elective local official] shall be terminated
within ninety (90) days from the start thereof. Within
thirty (30) days after the end of the investigation,
the Office of the President or the sanggunian
concerned shall render a decision in writing stating
clearly and distinctly the facts and the reason for
such decision. Copies of said decision shall
immediately be furnished the respondent and all
interested parties.
Considering that the investigation ended on August 31,
2011, the Office of the President had 30 days thereafter or on
September 30, 2011 to render its decision. But the Office of
the President, in clear violation of the law, did not render its
25
decision. To our mind, it was simply because the charges were
not substantiated, and so the case laid dormant and was
gathering dust in the records of the DILG during the entire
period of the incumbency of Sec. Jesse Robredo.
Secretary Robredo died in August of 2012 without
deciding the case and was subsequently succeeded by DILG
Secretary Mar Roxas. Again, nothing was heard of the case.
After the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy in
October of 2012, the Liberals in Cebu found themselves in
total disarray. They could not organize and were not even
able to field candidates in several municipalities and cities in
the province.
Meanwhile, the Governor, as head of the One Cebu Party,
was going around the province with the party’s provincial
and local candidates, and was drawing huge crowds of allies
and supporters. The Liberals in Cebu panicked. We learned
that they sent SOS messages to the LP in Manila asking for
help. That help came with the sudden suspension of the
Governor. The decision recommending the suspension was
dated December 17, 2012, or 15 months after their authority
to decide the case was terminated.
On December 19, 2012, even before the Governor could
be personally and validly served the suspension order because
she was in Manila at that time, the DILG Regional Director
in Region VII installed and swore in Vice Governor Agnes
Magpale as Acting Governor of the province of Cebu. Vice
Governor Magpale was a Board Member who succeeded as
Vice Governor after the death of Vice Governor Gregorio
Sanchez.
Incidentally, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale is the elder
sister of Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras. Immediately after
she was installed as Acting Governor, she began issuing
executive orders and memoranda to the department heads
and other officials of the province of Cebu, informing them
that she was already assuming the powers and functions of
the Governor.
The duly elected Governor Garcia, through her lawyers,
immediately appealed the DILG decision recommending her
suspension to the Court of Appeals with a prayer for the
issuance of a temporary restraining order. Unfortunately, and
this is a sad commentary on our judicial system, the Chairman
of the Twelfth Division of the Court of Appeals to which the
case was assigned, Justice Vicente Veloso, succumbed to the
strong political pressure for him to rule against the Governor.
He confided to a close relative that the pressure came from
somewhere over the rainbow but definitely not from the
President. This Justice Veloso is very vulnerable to political
pressure because he is facing a land-grabbing case involving
a 430-hectare property in Leyte which is pending before the
DAR. In fact, there is a pending resolution in this House filed
by the Party-List Anakpawis calling for a congressional
investigation into this land-grabbing case against Justice
Veloso.
Meantime, the Governor continued to stay in her office
at the Capitol because hundreds of her constituents and
supporters from the towns and cities of the province such as
city and municipal officials, barangay officials, BHWs,
barangay tanod and several others came to her office to
express their shock and disappointment over what happened
to their governor and to express their sympathy for her.
The PNP, upon orders from the DILG and Police
Regional Director Garbo, fielded over 200 policemen to the
26
premises of the capitol. They closed the gate and established
a checkpoint. The visitors were illegally asked to present their
IDs, to state the purpose of their visit and to sign a logbook.
In fact, constituents from my district had a hard time entering
the Capitol premises where my district office is located.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Director Garbo, when
interviewed by media, revealed that they would bodily and
forcibly remove the Governor from the Capitol and he sent
elements of SWAT to the premises of the Capitol, apparently
to execute and implement the order of General Garbo. I had
to call General Garbo to tell him that his order was
unconstitutional and illegal.
When Vice President Binay, Senate President Juan Ponce
Enrile and former President Erap Estrada came to visit the
Governor the Sunday after the suspension, Vice President
Binay scolded the members of the SWAT who were carrying
long arms. He asked them why they were carrying long arms
when there was no trouble in the capitol. “It was an excessive
and inordinate display of force,” the Vice President said. The
governor continued to stay and sleep in her office because if
she would leave the office, she had no other place in which to
receive her visitors and constituents from the municipalities
and cities of the province, especially after the Acting Governor
kept on saying when she was interviewed by media that if the
Governor would leave the Capitol, she could not come back
to her office. To the outsiders, this situation was deemed a
standoff at the capitol, but actually it was not, because the
governor was no longer exercising her powers and functions as
a governor, which were already assumed by the Acting Governor.
On the second week of January, this year, Sec. Mar Roxas
of the DILG was interviewed by ABS-CBN and he stated
that it was all right if the Governor would continue to stay in
her office because, anyway, the Acting Governor was already
exercising the powers and functions of the Governor.
Then, midweek before the celebration of the Sinulog
Festival in Cebu City, on Sunday of January 20, 2013,
President Aquino came to Cebu in order to attend the
inauguration of an Australian shipbuilding facility in
Balamban, Cebu. In the afternoon of that day, during a press
conference in Mandaue City, the President announced to the
media that it was all right for the Governor to keep her office
at the Capitol because, as Secretary Mar Roxas had already
said, there is no standoff at the Capitol since the Acting
Governor was already in full control of the provincial
government. The President even said that the Governor can
talk to him, if she wanted to. When Governor Gwen was asked
by media to comment on the President’s statement, the
Governor thanked the President for his statesmanship.
So, in the light of the statements of the President and
DILG Secretary Mar Roxas on Sunday, January 20, 2013,
the Governor, who earlier was undecided on whether to dance
at the Sinulog or not, with conflicting advice from friends
and relatives, finally decided to leave the Capitol in order to
fulfill her vow to the Sto. Niño. She had been doing this for
the last eight years of her tenure as Governor. And so, she
danced for the ninth and last time as Governor. The Governor
is thankful to the Sto. Niño that no untoward incident
happened.
Earlier, there were threats that she would be booed and
pelted with empty bottles and tomatoes. So, she was especially
thankful for the cheers and standing ovation that she received
from the gallery of the stadium after her performance. After
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
the dance, she returned to the Capitol where her friends and
supporters were waiting to cheer and congratulate her.
The people of Cebu were due to experience another
shock. Relying on the words of the President and Secretary
Mar Roxas of DILG that the Governor can continue to stay
in her office at the Capitol to meet her visitors and constituents,
the Governor, last January 24 this year, left the office at the
Capitol in order to go to the southern towns of the province
to inaugurate projects funded by the provincial government.
She also wanted to meet her constituents who were longing
to see her. At about four o’clock in the afternoon of that day,
and while the Governor and her party were still in the town
of Oslob, the members of media who were there with the
Governor received a word from Cebu City that upon the orders
of the Acting Governor, some men from her office, escorted
by a battalion of policemen, padlocked the office of the
Governor and all entrances of the capitol leading to the office
of the Governor were also padlocked or blocked. In order to
drive out the personnel of the office of the Governor and
some guests who were waiting for her, the Acting Governor
ordered that the power and water connection to the office be
cut-off. The CR near the office was also padlocked. So, the
office personnel had to hurriedly gather their personal papers
and belongings from their tables and move out of the premises.
When some personnel wanted to return to the office in order
to retrieve some personal belongings and effects from their
tables, a phalanx of policemen barred their re-entry. All told,
the padlocking and other activities conducted by the
policemen and personnel of the Acting Governor were done
in an arrogant, brutal and barbaric manner.
Here is a report of that incident in our local papers: The
Freeman, “While Garcia was in Oslob, Magpale locks up
Governor’s Office”; Cebu Daily News’s headline, “Locked
Out”; Sun Star, “Gwen Locked Out, Magpale Orders Office
Closure After Garcia Leaves to Visit Towns.”
After the padlocking of the office of the Governor, the
Cebuanos were wondering, since the President and DILG
Secretary Mar Roxas had earlier stated, and as reported in
the local papers and radio, and even in some Manila papers,
that the Governor can continue to stay in her office at the
Capitol in order to receive her visitors and constituents, did
the Acting Governor clear her actions such as the padlocking
of the office of the Governor, the cutting off of the power and
water connections to that office? Did the acting governor clear
this action with the President or the Secretary of the DILG
before she did it? This is because it would seem to portray
the President and the Secretary as insincere, untrue to their
words, or worse, that they only wanted to trick the Governor
into leaving the office in order that the Acting Governor can
padlock it. Strange, very strange, indeed!
We read in the papers that there are similar political
developments in other places in the country, like Pangasinan,
Cagayan de Oro and the Zamboangas. Congressman Jalosjos
delivered a privilege speech on what was happening in the
Zamboangas. This has happened in some municipalities in
Samar, in the district of Congressman Emil Ong and, probably,
in other places also; only, up to now, they have not been
reported. But people are asking, why is Cebu made the first
target?
The answer is obvious, politics; but unfortunately, we
are shown the ugly side of politics. Here is probably the
reason: Cebu is the most populous province in the entire
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
country, it has a population of 4.1 million. I think there is not
even any other province that has a population of three million.
Cebu has a voting population of 2.6 million, and this is even
bigger than in some regions in the country. The people of
Cebu or the Cebuanos have relatives and friends in the
Cebuano-speaking provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao
with whom they are in constant communication. So, the
Cebuano vote is very important, or even crucial in any national
election. This is the misfortune of the three-term Governor
of Cebu. Presently, she is perceived to be a potential political
adversary because she is identified with the UNA. Three days
after her suspension, the so-called “Three Kings” of UNA—
Vice President Binay, Senate President Enrile and former
President Erap Estrada—visited the Governor in her office
in the Capitol and they expressed their strong support for her
cause. Her problem is complicated by the fact that the
campaign for the 2016 presidential election has already begun.
In fact, the candidates for presidency in that election have
already been proclaimed this early.
So, also, this early, the Governor must be politically
neutralized or even destroyed. Aside from the case of her
present suspension, charge after charge are being prepared
against her. In a manner of speaking, they are throwing
everything at her including the kitchen sink. But I should
inform her political detractors that she is not afraid. She is
prepared to fight and defend herself against all these charges.
She will not be a coward. She will not be intimidated, because
she knows that there is a just God and at the end, truth and
justice will prevail. Let me say this: What is being done to
her is a gross insult to the overwhelming majority of the
Cebuanos who elected her to be their Governor thrice, the
Cebuanos she has loved so much and served so well.
That is why, I would like His Excellency, the President, to
please remember that while one political party, the Liberal Party,
insists on claiming that the President is exclusively its very own,
we feel that we too can rightfully say that he is also our President.
This is because while as a candidate, he may have
exclusively belonged to his political party, but after the
elections, he now belongs to the entire Filipino people, for
whom he has taken a solemn oath to serve faithfully and well.
Indeed, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues, the President has
become much larger than the Liberal Party because his
Administration is supported by people coming not only from
the Liberal Party but also from other political parties such as
the Nacionalista Party (NP), the Nationalist People’s Coalition
(NPC), the PDP-Laban (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas
ng Bayan), the National Unity Party (NUP), the United
Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and many others, including those
from the NGOs and POs. One perfect example is the case of
the Vice President of UNA and Senator Villar of NP. They
are both supportive of the Aquino Administration. The
Liberals may not be comfortable about this, but the Filipino
people are very happy for it.
That is why, Mr. Speaker, while at the local levels, our
adversaries in the May elections may be members of the LP, it
does not necessarily follow that by this measure, we are also
adversaries of the President. In fact, Mr. Speaker, this is one and
probably the only election in our country where the President
will also come out victorious in all levels because whoever wins
at the local or even at the national level, coming from whatever
party, that winner will always be an ally and supporter of the
Administration of the President.
27
Mr. Speaker, this is what I would like to happen in the
political “jigsaw puzzle” that is Cebu. There are nine
congressional districts in Cebu. Six from the towns and
component cities in the province and three from the highly
urbanized cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu City, two from the
former and one from the latter. There is one Party-List
representative from the ANAD which is based in Cebu. Of
the six representatives from the province, three are from the
NUP; one from the NP; one from the NPC and one from the
LP. Of the three from the highly urbanized city, two are from
LP from Cebu City and one from Lakas-Kampi from LapuLapu City. There are three local parties in Cebu and these are
One Cebu for the entire province, BAKUD for the Fifth
District and ALAYON from the Fifth District.
The LPs have candidates in eight of the nine
congressional districts against the candidates coming from
other political parties, some of whom are incumbent
Congressmen. This is also true with the candidates for
provincial officials and for city and municipal officials.
But the reality on the ground, Mr. Speaker, is that the
incumbent Congressmen of the nine congressional districts
of the province who are not LPs are committed to support the
Administration of President Aquino. The same is true with
all the provincial, city and municipal officials who are not
LPs. They are also committed to support the Administration
of the President.
So, it is our hope and our prayer in Cebu that in the coming
May elections, our President, being the statesman that he has
shown to be, will stay above the local conflicts and look at all
the Cebuanos as his loyal subjects and leave them to settle
their differences among themselves in a peaceful, orderly and
democratic manner. After all, whatever happens in that election,
Cebu will always stand behind the President.
Thank you, Mme. Speaker.
SUSPENSION OF SESSION
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we suspend
the session for one minute.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The
session is suspended.
It was 6:31 p.m.
RESUMPTION OF SESSION
At 6:33 p.m., the session was resumed.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The
session is resumed.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we refer
the privilege speech of the honorable Deputy Speaker Pablo
P. Garcia to the appropriate committee.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there any
objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
The speech of the Hon. Pablo P. Garcia is hereby referred
to the appropriate committee.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
28
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
REP. FARIÑAS. The Gentleman from Cebu City wishes
to be recognized, Mme. Speaker.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The Hon.
Tomas R. Osmeña from the city of Cebu is hereby recognized.
May I point out finally, Mme. Speaker, that this case is
now in court, and let us let the court decide on this matter
with finality.
Thank you very much, Mme. Speaker.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker.
REP. OSMEÑA. Mme. Speaker, may I exercise my
privilege to comment on the previous speaker. I would like
to point out …
REP. GARCIA (P.). Mme. Speaker, may I comment.
SUSPENSION OF SESSION
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The
Gentleman has 10 minutes. Please proceed.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. OSMEÑA
REP. OSMEÑA. Thank you.
I would like to point to this honorable Body that the
Governor of Cebu has undergone due process, and it was
determined by then Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) Secretary Jesus “Jesse” M. Robredo.
Before he died, he signed the decision, and his
recommendation was to suspend Gov. Gwen Garcia for six
months, and what we are simply witnessing today is the
exercise of the result of that decision which by virtue of the
Governor was suspended.
One can claim that it was a “power grab,” but let me
point out that Secretary Jesse Robredo has a very credible
reputation being a Ramon Magsaysay awardee, an expert
in local government, a former president of the League of
Cities and one of the 10 outstanding young men. I think it
is unfair to imply that the actuations and recommendation
of the late Secretary Jesse Robredo were politically
motivated.
I beg this audience to also pay attention to the fact that
Governor Gwen Garcia slipped out of the building and was
seen hiding her face, covering it with a mask. Now, is this the
actuation of someone who has nothing to hide? This is the
same Governor who insists that the people are clamoring that
she stay and that hundreds of supporters have told her she
will stay. This is the same Gwen Garcia who said that hundreds
of people have asked her to move out. This is the same
Governor who has said thousands of people are clamoring
for her to run, and then after assessing her situation, this is
the same Governor Garcia who said that thousands of
Cebuanos have asked her not to run anymore.
What is at stake here today is simply the result of a long
trial, and may I point out that the Sandiganbayan has already
ruled that Governor Gwen Garcia is guilty of purchasing a
P100-million worth of property that is basically underwater.
This is the same Gwen Garcia who claims that she has the
mandate of the Cebuanos. May I try to point out as she brags
that she feels that she is a very strong influence in Cebu, that
in the previous elections they were bragging that they would
give Mr. Teodoro one million votes. Let me point out that
Mr. Noynoy Aquino, who was elected President, got close to
a million votes and the majority vote of Mr. Aquino over the
others was the biggest in the Philippines. Cebu gave PNoy
the majority; percentage wise, it was smaller, a little bit smaller
than Tarlac and Pampanga, but volume-wise, it was in the
neighborhood of 700,000 votes.
* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
The session is suspended.
It was 6:38 p.m.
RESUMPTION OF SESSION
At 6:44 p.m., the session was resumed.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The
session is resumed.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we refer
the privilege speech of the Hon. Tomas R. Osmeña to the
appropriate committee.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The speech of the Hon. Tomas R. Osmeña is referred to
the appropriate committee.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we consider
certain House bills on Second Reading.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Please proceed.
CONSIDERATION OF H.B. NO. 6904
ON SECOND READING
PERIOD OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we consider
House Bill No. 6904, under Committee Report No. 2688, as
reported out by the Committee on Government Enterprises
and Privatization.
May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read
only the title of the measure.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Secretary General is directed to read only the title
of the measure.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the
measure have been previously distributed, the Secretary
General read only the title thereof without prejudice to
inserting its text in the Congressional Record.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6904,
entitled: AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we open the
period of sponsorship and debate, and that the Explanatory Note
of the Bill be considered as the sponsorship speech on the measure.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there any
objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we terminate
the period of sponsorship and debate, considering that no
Member has signified his intent to interpellate on the matter.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The period of sponsorship and debate is hereby
terminated.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we now
open the period of amendments. However, no Member has
signified his intent to introduce any amendment and there are
no Committee amendments, I move, therefore, that we
terminate the period of amendments.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The period of amendments is hereby terminated.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we approve
on Second Reading House Bill No. 6904.
VIVA VOCE VOTING
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). As many
as are in favor of House Bill No. 6904, please say aye.
SEVERAL MEMBERS. Aye.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). As many
as are against, please say nay.
29
House Bill No. 6904 is approved on Second Reading.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
CONSIDERATION OF H.B. NO. 6907
ON SECOND READING
PERIOD OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we consider
House Bill No. 6907, under Committee Report No. 2694, as
reported out by the Committee on Youth and Sports
Development.
May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read
only the title of the measure.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Secretary General is directed to read only the title
of the measure.
With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the
measure have been previously distributed, the Secretary
General read only the title thereof without prejudice to
inserting its text in the Congressional Record.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6907,
entitled: AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF
REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER NINETY HUNDRED AND
SIXTY FOUR (RA 9064), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
“NATIONAL ATHLETES, COACHES AND TRAINERS
BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT OF 2001” AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we open
the period of sponsorship and debate, and that the Explanatory
Note of the Bill be considered as the sponsorship speech on
the measure.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Explanatory Note of the Bill is hereby considered
as the sponsorship speech on the measure.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, considering that no
Member has signified his intent to interpellate on the matter,
I now move that we terminate the period of sponsorship and
debate.
APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 6904
ON SECOND READING
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The period of sponsorship and debate is hereby
terminated.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The ayes
have it; the motion is approved.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we now
open the period of amendments. However, there are no
FEW MEMBERS. Nay.
* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)
30
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
Committee amendments, neither has any Member signified
his or her intent to introduce any amendment, I therefore move
that we terminate the period of amendments.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we open the
period of sponsorship and debate, and that the Explanatory Note
of the Bill be considered as the sponsorship speech on the measure.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The period of amendments is hereby terminated.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there any
objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we approve
on Second Reading House Bill No. 6907.
VIVA VOCE VOTING
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). As many
as are in favor of House Bill No. 6907, please say aye.
SEVERAL MEMBERS. Aye.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). As many
as are against, please say nay.
FEW MEMBERS. Nay.
APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 6907
ON SECOND READING
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The ayes
have it; the motion is approved.
House Bill No. 6907 is approved on Second Reading.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we terminate
the period of sponsorship and debate considering that no
Member has signified his intent to interpelllate on the matter.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there any
objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
The period of sponsorship and debate is hereby terminated.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we open
the period of amendments. However, there are no Committee
amendments, neither has any Member signified his or her
intent to introduce any amendment, I now move, therefore,
that we terminate the period of amendments.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The period of amendments is hereby terminated.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we approve
on Second Reading House Bill No. 6909.
VIVA VOCE VOTING
CONSIDERATION OF H.B. NO. 6909
ON SECOND READING
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). As many
as are in favor of House Bill No. 6909, please say aye.
PERIOD OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE
SEVERAL MEMBERS. Aye.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we consider
House Bill No. 6909, under Committee Report No. 2695, as
reported out by the Committee on Revision of Laws.
May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read
only the title of the measure.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Secretary General is directed to read only the title
of the measure.
With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the
measure have been previously distributed, the Secretary
General read only the title thereof without prejudice to
inserting its text in the Congressional Record.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6909,
entitled: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A REVISED
CARNAPPING ACT, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6539, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
“THE ANTI-CARNAPPING ACT OF 1972”.
* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). As many
as are against, please say nay.
FEW MEMBERS. Nay.
APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 6909
ON SECOND READING
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The ayes
have it; the motion is approved.
House Bill No. 6909 is approved on Second Reading.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
OMNIBUS CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL
OF HOUSE BILLS
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move for the omnibus
consideration and approval on Second Reading of the
following measures:
1. House Bill No. 6901 under Committee Report No. 2686;
2. House Bill No. 5757 under Committee Report No. 2689;
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
3. House Bill No. 6906 under Committee Report No. 2690;
4. House Bill No. 5756 under Committee Report No. 2691;
5. House Bill No. 2164 under Committee Report No. 2692;
and
6. House Bill No. 5758 under Committee Report No. 2693.
I also move to consider the respective Explanatory Notes
as the sponsorship speeches of the same, to close the period
of sponsorship and debate, and to approve Committee
amendments, if any.
I so move.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved. *
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
CONSIDERATION OF CTTEE. RPT. NO. 2685
ON H.RES. NO. 57
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we consider
the findings and recommendations contained in Committee
Report No. 2685 on House Resolution No. 57.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Secretary General is directed to read only the title
of the resolution.
31
ADOPTION OF FINDINGS AND RECOM. IN
CTTEE. RPT. NO. 2685 ON H.RES. NO. 57
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The ayes
have it; the motion is approved.
The findings and recommendations contained in Committee
Report No. 2685 on House Resolution No. 57 are adopted.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
CONSIDERATION OF CTTEE. REPORT NO. 2696 RE
PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. ROMUALDO
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I also move for the
adoption of the findings and recommendation contained in
Committee Report No. 2696, on the privilege speech delivered
by Rep. Pedro P. Romualdo.
ADOPTION OF FINDINGS AND RECOM. IN
CTTEE. REPORT NO. 2696
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
RATIFICATION OF CONF. CTTEE. RPT.
ON H.B. NO. 4867 AND S.B. NO. 3280
With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the
Committee Report have been previously distributed, the
Secretary General read only the title of the measure without
prejudice to inserting its text in the Congressional Record.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, we are in receipt of the
Bicameral Conference Committee Report reconciling the
disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 4867 and Senate
Bill No. 3280.
May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read
only the titles of the measures.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Resolution No.
57, entitled: RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE
COMMITTEE ON GOOD GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC
ACCOUNTABILITY TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN
AID OF LEGISLATION, TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE
REGARDING THE ALLEGED SMOKEY MOUNTAIN
PROJECT SCAM.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Secretary General is directed to read only the titles
of the measures.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we adopt
the findings and recommendations contained in Committee
Report No. 2685 on House Resolution No. 57.
VIVA VOCE VOTING
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). As many
as are in favor of adopting the findings and recommendations
contained in Committee Report No. 2685 on House
Resolution No. 57, please say aye.
SEVERAL MEMBERS. Aye.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). As many
as are against, please say nay. (Silence)
* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)
With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the
Conference Committee Report have been previously
distributed, the Secretary General read only the titles of the
measures without prejudice to inserting the text of the report
in the Congressional Record.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 4867,
entitled: AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE INSURANCE
INDUSTRY, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 612, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE INSURANCE CODE; and Senate Bill No. 3280,
entitled: AN ACT REVISING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO.
612, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE INSURANCE CODE,
AS AMENDED BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NOS. 1141,
1280, 1455, 1460, 1814, AND 1981, AND BATAS PAMBANSA
BLG. 874, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we ratify
the said Bicameral Conference Committee Report.
32
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Bicameral Conference Committee Report is
approved.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Resolution No. 3029,
entitled: RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND
CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO
THE FAMILY OF THE HONORABLE GERARDO S. ESPINA
SR., FORMER REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LONE DISTRICT
OF BILIRAN DURING THE TENTH, ELEVENTH AND
TWELFTH CONGRESSES.
CONSIDERATION OF H.RES. NO. 3033
ADOPTION OF H.RES. NO. 3029
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we consider
House Resolution No. 3033.
May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read
only the title of the measure.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Secretary General is directed to read only the title
of the measure.
With the permission of the Body, and since copies of
the measure have been previously distributed, the
Secretary General read only the title thereof without
prejudice to inserting its text in the Congressional
Record.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Resolution
No. 3033, entitled: House Resolution No. 3033, entitled:
RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LATE
CONGRESSMAN ERICO B. AUMENTADO FOR HIS
EXEMPLARY AND INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
AS MEMBER OF THE HOUSE AND AS CHAIRMAN
OF THE COMMITTEE ON ETHICS AND
PRIVILEGES.
ADOPTION OF H.RES. NO. 3033
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
House Resolution No. 3033 is adopted.
CONSIDERATION OF H.RES. NO. 3029
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we consider
House Resolution No. 3029.
May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read
only the title of the measure.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.*
The Secretary General is directed to read only the title
of the measure.
With the permission of the Body, and since copies of
the measure have been previously distributed, the
Secretary General read only the title thereof without
prejudice to inserting its text in the Congressional
Record.
* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
House Resolution No. 3029 is adopted.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 5531
and Senate Bill No. 3052, which seek to create additional
branches of the RTC in the City of Olongapo.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice,
the Sponsors and authors of the Bill concur with the provisions
of Senate Bill No. 3052.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3052 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 5531.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3052 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 5531.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No.
5558 and Senate Bill No. 3014, which seek to create
additional branches of the Metropolitan Trial Court in the
City of Pasig.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Roman T. Romulo, the Sponsor and author of
the Bill, concur with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3014.
In accordance with our rules, I move that we adopt Senate
Bill No. 3014 as an amendment to House Bill No. 5558.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there any
objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
Senate Bill No. 3014 is adopted as an amendment to
House Bill No. 5558.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6844
and Senate Bill No. 3032, which seek to create additional
branches of the RTC in the City of Toledo, province of Cebu.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the honorable Sponsors are in concurrence with the
provisions of Senate Bill No. 3032.
In accordance with our rules, I move that we adopt Senate
Bill No. 3032 as an amendment to House Bill No. 6844.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3032 is adopted as an amendment to
House Bill No. 6844.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 5895
and Senate Bill No. 3050, which seek to create additional
branches of the RTC in the City of Biñan, province of Laguna.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez, the author, concur
with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3050.
In accordance with our rules, I move that we adopt Senate
Bill No. 3050 as an amendment to House Bill No. 5895.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3050 is adopted as an amendment to
House Bill No. 5895.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6846
and Senate Bill No. 3045, which seek to create additional
branches of the RTC in the municipality of Gumaca, province
of Quezon.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Lorenzo R. Tañada III, Sponsor and author
of the bill, are in concurrence with the provisions of Senate
Bill No. 3045.
In accordance with our rules, I move that we adopt Senate
Bill No. 3045 as an amendment to House Bill No. 6846.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6845
and Senate Bill No. 3017, which seek to create additional
branches of the RTC in the municipality of Midsayap,
province of North Cotabato.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice and
the Hon. Jesus N. Sacdalan, Sponsor and author of the bill, are
in concurrence with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3017.
In accordance with our rules, I move that we adopt Senate
Bill No. 3017 as an amendment to House Bill No. 6845.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3017 is adopted as an amendment to
House Bill No. 6845.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6853
and Senate Bill No. 3056, which seek to create additional
33
branches of the RTC in the City of Angeles, province of
Pampanga.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the author are in concurrence with the provisions of Senate
Bill No. 3056.
In accordance with our rules, I move that we adopt Senate
Bill No. 3056 as an amendment to House Bill No. 6853.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3056 is adopted as an amendment to
House Bill No. 6853.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6855
and Senate Bill No. 3043, which seek to create additional
branches of the MTC and the RTC in the City of Antipolo,
province of Rizal.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the author are in concurrence with the provisions of Senate
Bill No. 3043.
In accordance with our rules, I move that we adopt Senate
Bill No. 3043 as an amendment to House Bill No. 6855.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3043 is adopted as an amendment to
House Bill No. 6855.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6856
and Senate Bills No. 3041 and 3042 which seek to create
additional branches of the RTC in the municipalities of San
Mateo and Morong, province of Rizal.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Isidro S. Rodriguez Jr., the Sponsor and author
of the Bill, are in concurrence with the provisions of Senate
Bills No. 3041 and 3042.
In accordance with our rules, I move that we adopt Senate
Bills No. 3041 and 3042 as amendments to House Bill No.
6856.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bills No. 3041 and 3042 are hereby adopted as
amendments to House Bill No. 6856.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6851
and Senate Bill No. 3018, which seek to create an additional
branch of the RTC in the city of Kidapawan, province of North
Cotabato.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Nancy A. Catamco, the Sponsor and author of
the Bill, are in concurrence with the provisions of Senate
Bill No. 3018.
34
In accordance with our rules, I move that we adopt Senate
Bill No. 3018 as an amendment to House Bill No. 6851.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3018 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6851.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, I request that we
acknowledge the presence of some guests. We have the guests
of Hon. Pedro P. Romualdo of Camiguin. We have Dante
Aparte, Board of Director of Mambajao Water District, and
Engr. John Cagas, General Manager of Mambajao Water
District.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). May we
please request the guests of the Honorable Romualdo to
please rise. (Applause) Welcome to the House of
Representatives.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6847
and Senate Bill No. 3023, respectively, which seek to create
an additional branch of the Regional Trial Court in the city of
Digos, province of Davao del Sur.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Marc Douglas C. Cagas IV, Sponsor and author
of House Bill No. 6847, respectively, are in concurrence with
the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3023.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3023 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6847.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3023 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6847.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6848
and Senate Bill No. 3057, respectively, which seek to create
additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the city of
Malolos, province of Bulacan.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Ma. Victoria R. Sy-Alvarado, Sponsor and
author of House Bill No. 6848, respectively, are in
concurrence with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3057.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3057 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6848.
I so move, Mme. Speaker.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there any
objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
Senate Bill No. 3057 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6848.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6864
and Senate Bill No. 3049, respectively, which seek to create
an additional branch of the Regional Trial Court in the
municipality of Sta. Cruz, province of Laguna.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Edgar S. San Luis, Sponsor and author of House
Bill No. 6864, respectively, are in concurrence with the
provisions of Senate Bill No. 3049.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3049 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6864.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3049 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6864.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. DE VENECIA. Mme. Speaker, the House and
the Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill
No. 6865 and Senate Bill No. 3040, respectively, which
seek to create additional branches of the Regional Trial
Court in the city of Puerto Princesa, province of
Palawan.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Victorino Dennis M. Socrates, Sponsor and
author of House Bill No. 6865, respectively, are in
concurrence with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3040.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our rules, I move
that we adopt Senate Bill No. 3040 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6865.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3040 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6865.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. DE VENECIA. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6866
and Senate Bill No. 3047, respectively, which seek to create
an additional branch of the Regional Trial Court in the
municipality of Siniloan, province of Laguna.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Edgar S. San Luis, Sponsor and author of House
Bill No. 6866, respectively, are in concurrence with the
provisions of Senate Bill No. 3047.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3047 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6866.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. DE VENECIA. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6869
and Senate Bill No. 3029, respectively, which seek to create
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
an additional branch of the Regional Trial Court in the city of
Bais, province of Negros Oriental.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. George P. Arnaiz, Sponsor and author of House
Bill No. 6869, respectively, are in concurrence with the
provisions of Senate Bill No. 3029.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3029 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6869.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. DE VENECIA. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 5896
and Senate Bill No. 3048, respectively, which seek to create
additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the
municipality of San Pedro, province of Laguna.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez, Sponsor and author
of House Bill No. 5896, respectively, concur with the
provisions of Senate Bill No. 3048.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3048 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 5896.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3048 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 5896.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. DE VENECIA. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6863
and Senate Bill No. 3030, respectively, which seek to create
additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the
municipality of Barili, province of Cebu.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Pablo John F. Garcia, Sponsor and author of
House Bill No. 6863, respectively, are in concurrence with
the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3030.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with the rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3030 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6863.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3030 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6863.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. DE VENECIA. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6858
and Senate Bill No. 3027, respectively, which seek to create
additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the
municipality of Ipil, province of Zamboanga Sibugay.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Romeo M. Jalosjos Jr., Sponsor and author of
35
House Bill No. 6858, respectively, are in concurrence with
the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3027.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with the rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3027 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6858.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3027 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6858.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. DE VENECIA. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6862
and Senate Bill No. 3031, respectively, which seek to create
additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the
municipality of Argao, province of Cebu.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Pablo P. Garcia, Sponsor and author of House
Bill No. 6862, respectively, are in concurrence with the
provisions of Senate Bill No. 3031.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with the rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3031 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6862.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3031 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6862.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. DE VENECIA. Mme. Speaker, the House and the
Senate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No.
6857 and Senate Bill No. 3036, respectively, which seek to
create additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in
Cebu City.
We have been informed that the Committee on Justice
and the Hon. Rachel Marguerite B. Del Mar, Sponsor and
author of House Bill No. 6857, respectively, are in
concurrence with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3036.
Mme. Speaker, in accordance with the rules, I move that
we adopt Senate Bill No. 3036 as an amendment to House
Bill No. 6857.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
Senate Bill No. 3036 is hereby adopted as an amendment
to House Bill No. 6857.
The Majority Leader is recognized.
SUSPENSION OF SESSION
REP. GONZALES (N.). Mme. Speaker, may I ask for a
few minutes suspension of the session.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The
session is suspended.
It was 7:10 p.m.
36
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
RESUMPTION OF SESSION
At 7:11 p.m., the session was resumed with the Speaker
presiding.
THE SPEAKER. The session is resumed.
REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker.
THE SPEAKER. The Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. GONZALES (N.). Pursuant to our rules, Mr.
Speaker, I move that we authorize the House committees to
conduct meetings during the adjournment of the House from
February 7 to June 4, 2013.
I so move.
THE SPEAKER. The motion having been made, is there
any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
approved.
REMARKS OF
SPEAKER FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.
Well, my dear colleagues, we have reached that point,
and let me just say how happy I am that all of us are here, that
we have kept together, that we have remained friends and
colleagues. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.
My dear colleagues, this is a moment where I invite all
of you to reflect as we put a close to this triumphant session.
Allow me yet again the honor to commend you all for your
sterling efforts, your untiring dedication and your determined
commitment to reform.
The start of the Fifteenth Congress was marked by a great
clamor for change by our people. We all yearned for our nation
to be reborn and given a new direction, a new way—the right
way of doing things. We rose to the call. We put ourselves to
task. We focused on the work that we needed to do. We worked
together to pass the measures that were necessary to uplift the
lives of the ordinary Filipino. We held on to our legislative
priorities and helped to enact a total of 219 laws, to date, not
counting numerous bills approved in both Chambers and
subsequently where the bicameral reports were approved by us.
Now, the Philippines is back on the map. It cannot be
said enough using the words of the World Bank, “The sick
man of Asia is now a rising economic tiger.” Iyan ang sabi ng
World Bank.
Amidst a weak global economy in 2012, the Philippines
registered a rapid economic growth of 6.6 percent breaking
the economic growth target of 5 percent to 6 percent set by
our managers. The Philippines is showing a steady
improvement on various governance and competitiveness
indicators. We moved up by 24 places in the Transparency
International corruption index. We climbed 10 notches in the
World Economic Forum Competitiveness Rankings. We
advanced by four notches in the World Bank Government
Effectiveness indicators. With the strong macroeconomic
foundations and upbeat economic prospects, there are huge
expectations that the Philippines would be upgraded to
investment grade this year. Here, I must tell you, that I believe
all of us in the Fifteenth Congress are very much a part of
these positive developments happening in our country today.
The Fifteenth Congress holds the singular distinction, the
only time it ever happened, of enacting the General
Appropriations Law in a timely fashion. Before the start of the
fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013, government agencies were
already assured of fresh appropriations without resorting to a
temporary budget re-enactment. By putting the fiscal house in
order, we were able to provide funds for social protection
programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
or 4Ps, supplemental feeding for daycare children, the SelfEmployment Assistance-Kaunlaran Program and the Social
Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, to name just a few.
After lengthy deliberations on the health and moral issues
of cigarette and alcohol consumption, as well as the
implications of tax increase on tobacco farmers, the House
of Representatives initiated the filing and subsequent approval
by both Houses of sin tax reform measure under Republic
Act No. 10351.
Annually, we expect incremental revenues of more than
P30 billion which will go to universal health care, medical
assistance and health enhancement facilities programs, as well
as financial support for displaced workers in the alcohol and
tobacco industries. Believing that good governance is the
cornerstone of sustainable economic growth, we enacted the
GOCC Governance Act of 2011, the Act further strengthening
the Anti-Money Laundering Law and the Data Privacy Act.
We await the President’s signature on the Act rationalizing
the taxes on international air carriers which will further boost
our tourism efforts.
To enable the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of
our society to share and participate in the benefits of economic
growth, we enacted the law rationalizing the nightwork
prohibition on women workers, the Act decriminalizing
vagrancy, the Foster Care Act for abandoned and neglected
children and children with special needs, the Act establishing
the People’s Survival Fund and the Kasambahay Law or the
Domestic Workers Act. After years of waiting, victims of
human rights violations will soon find vindication for their
struggles under the Human Rights Victims Compensation Act.
Notably, to promote or improve maternal health and
reduce maternal mortality rates, we enacted the Responsible
Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and
Development Act. To enhance our country’s basic education
system, we enacted the law institutionalizing kindergarten
education into the basic education system, and have ratified
the Bicameral Conference Report on the Early Years Act and
the Basic Education Act or the K to 12 Law.
You know, I was amazed when I was in Thailand. The
people or the authorities there were saying that they might
not hire teachers anymore from the Philippines because we
only have K to 10, and they wanted K to 12. Now, we have K
to 12 as well. To promote wider peace and order, we enacted
the law defining the crime of financing of terrorism and the
Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act.
Did our people appreciate these efforts? I am confident
that they did. We have consistently garnered positive approval
ratings in opinion polls even up to now. We encouraged
people’s participation in the deliberations on the most
contentious issues. We made sure that the opinions and
sentiments of the people were heard and seriously considered.
This Fifteenth Congress will be remembered as the House
that passed the most number of historic and game-changing
laws without too much histrionics. (Applause) We substituted
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
discipline for drama and the result is a rich harvest of laws
that will improve the lot of our people in our country. From
reproductive health to sin taxes to human rights compensation,
long given up for dead for fear that they will disturb the status
quo, these bills now end up as banner legislation for change.
In these laws, we proved that no one can stop this House,
bent on making the most of its time and mandate, from passing
laws whose time has come.
In the case of the national budget, we also approved it
on time because we believe that budget delayed is
development denied. The pros of the laws that we have passed
are now being transformed into projects on the ground.
On top of these, we passed many other laws that will
change our people’s lives for the better, secure our children’s
right to a brighter future and put our economy on stronger
footing. We were able to achieve this because we worked
under a canopy of being a big tent—big tent politics and a
Chamber cavernous enough to accommodate divergent views.
Yes, the debates were often spirited but such were
pursued not to block the bills but to make them better. Yes,
the exchanges were sometimes feisty, but civility was
maintained at all times. As I said before, there was never
blood on the floor. Because of our passion for our causes,
we, the Members of the Fifteenth Congress, can be determined
and tenacious, but we were never obstructionists. We know
when to stand together, to stand our ground and when to forge
a common ground.
You have earned the highest esteem anyone can bestow
on one’s colleague. Indeed, let me tell you, I am proud and
honored to be your Speaker in this Fifteenth Congress.
(Applause)
37
In closing, let me congratulate you all, my dear
colleagues, for your support and dedication. My deepest
gratitude to each of you, regardless of political color.
The May elections are upon us. Let me tell you that you
deserve a strong sense of satisfaction in knowing that you
contributed to a job well done. You were indispensable in the
great task of getting our country back on track. However, work
remains. We still have a lot to accomplish, to see to it that
economic growth and new opportunities beckoning upon us
will be sustained and will result in the upliftment of the living
condition of every Filipino, and that nobody is left behind.
I, therefore, wish each of you, my beloved and respected
colleagues, success in the coming elections. (Applause)
Godspeed! Mabuhay tayong lahat. Mabuhay ang
Pilipinas! Thank you. Mabuhay tayo. (Applause)
REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker.
THE SPEAKER. The Majority Leader is recognized.
ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION
REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we
adjourn the session until June 5, 2013 at four o’clock in the
afternoon.
THE SPEAKER. This Chamber stands adjourned until
Wednesday, June 5, 2013.
So ordered. Mabuhay. The session is adjourned. (Applause)
It was 7:23 p.m.
Published by the Publication and Editorial Service, Plenary Affairs Bureau
The Congressional Record can be accessed through the Downloads Center of the official website
of the House of Representatives at www.congress.gov.ph
FLL/ddc/041613/1645