PRIORITIES

 

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II appeals to opponents of the reproductive health bill to allow the measure to be put to a vote. Gonzales hopes critics of the measure will already terminate the debate so they can proceed to the period of amendments. Gonzales says the problem though with passing the RH Bill is the lines are not clear regarding who is for or against it. Gonzales says even the administration Liberal party is divided, with top leaders in Congress taking opposing sides.Gonzales meantime says they have no problem with passing a divorce law though he concedes deliberating on it now would really mean picking a fight with the catholic church

PRESSURE

Former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo blasts Presidential Pressure for the filing of the Ombudsman of a corruption case for the PNP Choppers deal.
In a statement, Arroyo said, “we are aware of the pressure exerted by a politician who is acting like a conquistador. His inquisitorial tendencies is typical of his old ways as a martial law enforcer against activists. From dramatic and scripted senate investigation to filing of the ombudsman, nothing else is new.”
Arroyo maiintained his innocence in the deal. ” It is clear from documents in CAAP that from the start Lionair is the owner and  exclusive distributor of the helicopters in the country and it was maptra,  the marketing agent which sold the helicopters to the pnp. Yet they gave credence to the bare testimony of an individual over the overwhelming documentary evidence showing i am not the owner.”

BENCH

 House Speaker Sonny Belmonte admits the Liberal Party will not be able to form a senatorial slate that will be comprised exclusively of party members. “Well, actually, there’s no such thing as an LP slate. I think it will be a slate where a lot of people who are, in effect, meron din namang…dito sa atin meron tayong formal coalition. Sa Senate, I think there is also an informal coalition there.”