Press Release
May 2, 2017

Transcript of Ambush Interview of Senate President Koko Pimentel III

On the possible replacement of Secretary Gina Lopez

SP Pimentel: Wala. The party will not preempt the confirmation proceedings of Secretary Gina Lopez. Wala pang klaro kung ano ang mangyayari. Maybe that was a regional council with access to media.

Q: Ano po yung tingin ninyong chances ni Secretary Lopez?

SP: Wag na muna natin idiscuss, anyway tomorrow madedecide na.

On the Senate's intention to investigate the secret cell

SP: I think merong magpa-file ng reso, it will be properly referred to the committee and it is the chairman's call to schedule. Ako, I have no objection, dapat lang siguro.

On the minority bloc's intention for a more active participation for Senator De Lima

SP: Can we not let the court decide?

Q: As Senate President, will you ask the court?

SP: Nasa court na yung issue, so let the court decide. Let her lawyers work. The court can ask, or the Senate President can initiate as an amicus curiae if the court would ask but I don't think it's the case so it is not important. Ginagawa lang naman yun if it is a difficult question of constitutional law.

Ang rules kasi namin, you must be present to be able to interpellate, to debate, and to vote, but you need not be present to file resolutions, to file bills. Yung mga need not be present na things, we can still do, but those that need your presence, what can we do? You must be physically present.

Q: If they will ask for your (unclear)

SP: I will refer them to the lawyers.

On the issue of endo and barangay election

SP: In due time. Ang usapan namin ni Speaker, I think they will be the ones to process the bill or reso on the barangay election, then once it passes the House of Representatives, it will immediately be transmitted to the Senate, therefore we will now discuss. The plenary will now take a position.

Sa endo, I talked to the Secretary of Labor, he issued a new department order, but still, the issue refuses to die. Some say that the department order does not address the issue of endo, therefore it must be a law. I will still remind labor chairman Senator Villanueva to prioritize all the endo bills.

On the death penalty SP: Death penalty, close fight, hindi ko mabilang yung 13 na sinasabi ni Senator Drilon.

On whether the Senate's priority bills for the next six weeks will be met

SP: In due time. Maraming priorities, we identified around 14 to 15. Best effort, there are 14 session days, and we have enumerated around 14 to 15 bills which we would like to pass during these 14 session days.

Q: Ano po yung mga bills na sure na mapapasa?

SP: Ayaw nga namin magsabi na medyo sure, baka best effort lang on both Houses. For example, itong revised penal code, updating of the amounts so that the penalties would be more reasonable. Ipapasa na namin today, so minus one na sa Senate, but sa House, workload nila yan. They have still not processed that. Ganun ang ginagawa namin, so we have a list. We will also not ignore what the House has transmitted to us, may mga local bills na wala sa priority list, but we will also, kung kaya naming i-accommodate, we will accommodate.

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