Press Release
July 22, 2013

ANGARA'S SPEECH TO NOMINATE SENATOR FRANKLIN DRILON
FOR SENATE PRESIDENT

Ginoong Pangulo; Ginagalang na mga kasama; Excellencies; Members of the Diplomatic Corps; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Isa pong karangalan para sa representasyon na ito na i-nominate sa posisyon ng pangulo nitong Kamara ang isang senador na kilala na nating lahat. Kapag sinabi mong "Big Man ng Senado" iisang pangalan lamang ang pumapasok sa isipan ng ating mga kababayan.

The gentleman from Iloilo is no stranger to the position of Senate President, having led the Senate twice from the turn of the century for a period of 5 years.

He came from humble beginnings, the eldest of 4 children and a product of the public school system. From the Baluarte School in Molo, Iloilo City where he did his basic education, he went on to finish his college and law degree at the University of the Philippines.

Siya ay nag-top ng bar examinations noong taong 1969 at sumusunod siya sa yapak ng mga abogado o bar topnotcher na namuno rin sa Senado sa nakaraang mga kongreso--sina Senate President Manuel L. Quezon, Manuel A. Roxas, Arturo M. Tolentino, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Jovito R. Salonga, Neptali L. Gonzales, Ernesto R. Maceda, at Juan Ponce Enrile.

Siya ay nagtrabaho sa mga tanyag na law firm at nakilala bilang isang mahusay na labor lawyer. According to former Senate President Blas Ople who once served as labor minister, "As a young lawyer then, Atty [Frank] Drilon brought order to the chaos that characterizes labor-management disputes and relations.

Malawak na ang kanyang karanasan sa gobyern, sa sangay ng ehekutibo bago siya unang nailuklok bilang Senador noon taong 1995 sa edad na apatnapu't siyam. Siya'y naging Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Justice at Executive Secretary noon dekada otsenta at dekada nobenta sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Presidente Aquino at Ramos.

As Secretary of Justice, he prosecuted high profile cases and secured convictions against powerful and well-connected individuals in celebrated cases such as the Teehankee-Hultman, Rolito Go and Mayor Sanchez cases, thus giving Filipinos hope in the justice system.

As a Senator, the gentleman from Iloilo can best be described as a lawmaker's lawmaker--a man who has held most of the prestigious leadership positions in this chamber, including that of Majority Leader and Chairman of the Committees on Justice, Blue Ribbon and Finance, and of course the chamber's highest position--that of Senate President.

His knowledge of government operations is vast, as shown when he sponsored the law reorganizing government corporations. As Chair of the Finance Committee, he was well-known for explaining the arcana of government budgeting in terms easily comprehensible to all.

He has led the Senate twice in the past decade and a half. In 2000, he took the unusual step, as Senate President, of leaving the majority coalition possibly the first in history to do so. Dahil dito siya'y tinanggal sa pwesto bilang Senate President. Pero 'di nakalimutan ng kasaysayan at ng ating mga kababayan ang sakripisyong ginawa ng isang Senate President Drilon sapagkat siya'y ibinalik sa pwesto bilang Senate President noong 2001 at Senador noong 2004 at 2010.

Sa loob ng iilang lingo pag-uusapan po natin ang General Appropriations Act o ang 2014 budget. At, kung mas maraming pondo ang ating gobyerno para ilaan sa mga programang makakatulong sa publiko, dapat pasalamatan si Senator Drilon sa kanyang pagtulak ng batas na pinatatag ang kaban ng bayan at mas marami ngayon ang programang pang-tao. .

In recent years, unfavorable tax laws have led foreign airlines to remove their flights from the Philippines. Sa sunod na mga taon, kung bumalik ang mga airlines, mga biyahero, at turista sa ating bansa, pwede ring pasalamatan si Sen. Drilon dahil isinulong niya ang reporma sa pagbubuwis ng mga airlines o common carriers.

He has used his PDAF or Pork Barrel wisely by channelling it to the Federation of Chinese Filipino Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCII) who are able to build hundreds of classrooms at half the cost to the government.

Pati sa labas ng bansa siya ay kilala. Si Sen. Drilon ay nahalal ng Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) bilang pangulo noong 2005, ang unang Pilipinong mambabatas na mahalal sa nasabing posisyon. Pati sa mundo ng pulitika sa labas ng bansa o sa big stage of international politics, "Big Man" pa din si Senator Frank.

Senator Drilon is married to Milagros Serrano of San Jose, Camarines sur, who if I may add would make a superb Chair of the Senate Spouses Foundation thanks to her grace, charm and compassion.

As a public figure, Senator Drilon has been a trusted and steadying presence, the voice of moderation, the voice of reason, the voice of decency in public service--qualities which are sorely needed in these times.

In ending this nomination, Mr. President allow me to quote the words of former Senate Presidents. SP Jovito Salonga said, "The senate must provide a sense of purpose and direction, not only to those in government, but more importantly to the overwhelming majority of people who are weak and who are poor."

SP Ople was correct to point out and say that throughout the life of our Republic, the Senate has stood out as the great institution of liberty and responsibility.

And so Mr. President, my dear colleagues--it is with great reverence for this institution, the guardian of the people's rights and liberties, and with a great respect for what the gentleman from Iloilo has accomplished that I hereby nominate Senator Franklin Drilon, the pride of the Ilonggos and of the entire nation, the "Big Man of the Senate," for a position he thoroughly deserves and for which he is eminently qualified, that of Senate President.

Thank you, Mr. President!

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