Press Release
August 14, 2017

Transcript of Interview of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III

On the postponement of the Barangay and SK elections

SP Pimentel: ...Kung ganun lang, I don't foresee that to be controversial kasi Ginawa na namin yun. This time, ilagay naman natin ng corresponding obligations sa Executive Branch to file, to act on the drug list. If that is the compelling reason to postpone dahil maraming included sa drug list, therefore make use of the drug list and file cases para matanggal sa posisyon at administrative cases muna.

Q: Kailangan pa ba i-postpone for them to act on the drug list?

SP: Ipo-postpone na nga because of the inclusion of many in the drug list ang feeling kasi is mananalo pa rin yung mga re-electionist, drug funded. Kung ipo-postpone na lang din naman natin with holdover para less controversy, hihingi kami ng corresponding action sa Executive Branch to act on that list.

Q: Hindi naman ini-stipulate yan sa bill?

SP: No, I will try to put it there. Ang maganda kasing bill sa akin, it will postpone and holdover and it will put a certain date na mag stop na yung term nila, but in the meantime, maglagay kami ng expedited procedure on administrative cases on grave grounds. Number one, inclusion in the drug list, yun ang the best compromise. Yung hinihingi ng Executive, mabibigay namin, pero bigyan naman namin sila ng corresponding burden na kilos din.

Q: Yun na po ang direction? Postponement?

SP: Postponement with holdover, pinaka less controversial than postponement and appointment.

Q: May succession po?

SP: Wala kaming choice, August to September, tapusin na muna. Local government code.

Q: Once you are on the list?

SP: There must be an expedited procedure to act on the list. File-an na ng kaso kasi we are always referring to the list and yet we ignore the list. We act on the list.

Q: May 2018 po yan?

SP: Wala pa. Sabi ng House, May 2018 pero pwede pa pag-usapan.

Q: Will there be changes in the law?

SP: Wala tayong magagawa. Comelec must not assume that there is going to be changes in the law. We act according to what the law is today. Tama po yun, nagiging wasteful po tayo but that is what is happening, because mabagal din ang kilos namin. Meron din kaming kasalanan.

Q: Cases must be filed na?

SP: Ang filing of cases, sa Executive Branch. Ipasa na natin sa Executive Branch yan. Always I think the drug list. Therefore I think put value to that drug list, act on that drug list and then the law, mas maganda, we will describe a procedure na expedited, mabilis. Hindi matagal.

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