Responding to public criticisms, the Senate has decided to suspend the discussions of the committee report on the C-5 road investigation to focus on the important bills which need immediate approval before the adjournment in Wednesday next week.
â€We, as your senators, are under attack for focusing our time in the debates on the C-5 road committee report and not working on the important bills. So, we decided to call a ceasefire and finish first the priority bills we need to approve before the adjournment,†Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Wednesday before the start of the session.
Among the important measures that need to be passed include Freedom of Information Act and Senior Citizen Act which are up for ratification; Immigration Law for third and final reading; Early Voting Bill and a number of local bills.
The Senate absorbed negative criticisms for spending more time in what perceived as unnecessary debates that happened last Monday when Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile presented the report of the committee of the whole on the C-5 road controversy involving Senator Manny Villar.
Tensions flared up as the allies and critics of Villar exchanged offensive words in a live televised debates on whether to adopt the committee report recommending the censure of Villar and his reimbursement of P6.2 billion the government had spent for the project.
Zubiri, however, clarified that the decision to suspend the debates is not a ploy to delay the proceedings of the committee report No. 780.
â€It is not a ploy to delay. Of course, we have to finish this issue but we have to pass first the priority bills because some my colleagues might not come already next week,†Zubiri explained.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago favored the suspension of debates on C-5 road controversy even as she insisted that two-third votes are needed to approve the recommendation of the committee of the whole chaired by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
â€That’s why I’m telling my colleagues to stop the debates because mostly the words are below the belt concerning personalities,†Santiago explained.
Although she supported resolution 1476 dismissing case against Villar, Santiago still urged the Nacionalista Party’s presidential candidate to appear in the session and answer the accusations against him.
Villar has already denied that he committed wrongdoings in the construction of C-5 extension road project. (PNA)
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