Tag: House of Representatives

Incoming presidential spokesperson Roque says he will not resign as congressman just yet

Says he has until Nov. 20, when Congress resumes, to do that (Eagle News) — He may have been designated as the president’s new spokesperson, but Harry Roque is not about to resign as congressman just yet. In an interview with CNN Philippines aired on Wednesday, Roque, who is currently the Kabayan party-list representative in the Lower House, said that after all, he has until Nov. 20, when Congress resumes, to do just that. Roque […]

Pimentel: No need for impeach trial if Bautista steps down as Comelec chair

(Eagle News) — There is no longer any need for the impeachment trial of Commission on Elections Chair Andres Bautista if he steps down from his post. “Kung meron talagang resignation letter and deemed separated from government service na siya, e wala na. Dapat stop na yung impeachment..Kung umalis na siya sa posisyon, wala nang dahilan na magtuloy tuloy pa,” Senate President Koko Pimentel said in a radio interview on Thursday. So far, he said […]

COMELEC chair calls House move to impeach him “unfortunate,” “unnecessary,” but will abide by ruling

  (Eagle News) — Commission on Elections Chair Andres Bautista viewed as “unfortunate” the decision of the House of Representatives that voted to impeach him, saying it was an “unnecessary move.” In a statement, Bautista also acknowledged that the lawmakers were “entitled to their own opinion,” and said that he will abide by the rules on the impeachment process. “It is unfortunate that the decision of the House Committee on Justice, which was voted upon […]

House approves P3.767 trillion nat’l budget for 2018

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — The House of Representatives has approved the proposed P3.767-trillion national budget for 2018 on third and final reading. House Bill 6215 or the 2018 General Appropriations Bill garnered 233 “yes” votes and nine “no” votes. “We have considered at least two major factors in making our adjustments. One is urgency and another is capacity. We carved out budgets depending on the urgency of certain projects and programs that require […]

Senate wants proposed amendment to Anti-Hazing Law passed before December

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — Several senators are confident that the proposed amendments to the Anti-Hazing Law will be passed before December 2017. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said that the Senate will pursue the approval of the amendments especially because of the tragic death of University of Sto. Tomas law student Horacio Castillo III during the hazing activities of the Aegis Juris fraternity. In an interview with GMA’s, Unang Balita, Zubiri said he and […]

House stands firm in decision to not reduce PNP’s anti-criminality fund for 2018

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) – The House of Representatives stood firm in its decision to retain the Php 900-million budget for the Philippine National Police’s “Oplan Double Barrel” for 2018. For this, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Karlo Nograles junked the opposition’s argument that the money would be used to fund what they said was the police’s killing spree, noting instead that it was not the government’s policy to kill criminals in the first place. “As […]

House of Representatives gather Php 40 billion to fund free tertiary education

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — The House Committee on Appropriations was able to gather Php 40 billion in order to fund free tertiary education that will start on 2018. “I’m happy to announce that we found P40 billion to finance free higher education,” Davao City Representative Carlo Nograles, House Appropriations Committee Chairman said. Nograles said that they got the funds from the different scholarship programs of the various state universities and colleges as well […]

Senators oppose House’s P1,000-budget for CHR; to reenact 2017 budget in case of deadlock

  (Eagle News) – Several senators expressed their disappointment that the House of Representatives had voted to give the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) a meager P1,000 budget, as they vowed to give the commission the P678 million it had asked for 2018, or even just re-allocate the P749 million budget it had for this year. Senator Panfilo Lacson, the sponsor of the P678 million budget for the CHR, said that he would continue to […]

Customs Chief Faeldon a no-show in Senate committee hearing on P6.4-B drug shipment

(Eagle News) — Customs Chief Nicanor Faeldon was a no-show in Wednesday’s  Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the P6.4-billion drug shipment that entered the country, saying he was confined in the hospital due to hypertension. In a letter addressed to Senator Richard Gordon, Senate blue ribbon committee chair, Faeldon said that he had been diagnosed with “non ST elevation myocardial infection acute coronary syndrome; hypertension urgency hypertension stage II” and was confined at the […]

Senator Lacson on assurances there is no pork in the 2018 nat’l budget: “Let’s be honest”

(Eagle News) — Let’s be honest. This was the message of Senator Ping Lacson to lawmakers amid assurances there was no pork in the 2018 national budget. “That’s what the Department of Budget and Management and the House appropriations committee always say before, during and after our budget deliberations..(but) how do you explain (certain things)?” he asked. He said there were, for instance, “big lump sums” in several agencies such as the Department of Public […]

Rep. Farinas: House members agreed to postpone barangay polls this year; elections to be held in May 2018

(Eagle News) — Lawmakers at the House of Representatives have agreed to postpone the barangay elections to May next year. Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Farinas said this was to allow for the synchronization of the polls with the plebiscite for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and Charter change. Both measures have yet to be passed. In the meantime, current barangay chairs will continue to hold their positions in a holdover capacity. According to Farinas, the […]

Duterte to wait for Congress’ report on inquiries before deciding on Customs chief Faeldon’s fate

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he would wait for the results of Congress’ investigation into the Bureau of Customs’ failure to stop a P6.4-billion drug shipment into the country before deciding on Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon’s fate. “Let the investigation (continue)..I want the (final) report. I will review it and I will be fair,” he said in a press conference after his speech during the 113th founding anniversary celebration of the […]