By Brian Campued
Amid the ongoing Senate impasse due to disagreements between the majority and minority senators, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged the upper chamber to return to work and perform their duties as lawmakers.
Speaking to reporters following an event in Manila on Wednesday, the President lamented how the current issues at the Senate are affecting the legislative processes and disrupting sessions.
“Get back to work. Get back to work. Because it’s important… Ang dami nating kailangang gawin,” he said.
Marcos stressed that as the Senate failed to convene again for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, the tackling of measures aimed at cushioning Filipinos from the impact of rising fuel prices was also derailed.
He said that following the regular meeting of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Committee, proposals such as for supplemental budget and amendments to existing laws were raised.
“Ito ay kailangan para makapagbigay tayo ng tulong sa taumbayan dahil nga sa oil crisis,” he said.
The Senate impasse followed the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada over plunder and graft charges linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects while Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa remains in hiding over the enforcement of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against him.
The Chief Executive questioned the cancellation of Senate sessions for two consecutive days, stressing that assisting a colleague is not enough reason to suspend a scheduled session.
“The Executive continues to work. The Judiciary continues to work. Why does the Legislation decide—why does the Legislature decide to stop working?” he said.
Citing his prior experience as a member of the legislative department, Marcos noted that there are rules governing session cancellations—that the Senate must inform the House of Representatives at least three days before canceling a session and that it must entail compelling grounds for doing so.
“All these events that we have been witnessing [have] thrown the Senate and its leadership—the whole Senate into disarray. It has discredited the leadership, and it has stopped the essential business of legislation in government,” the President said.
Asked what he intends to do as President, Marcos said that they are examining all possible options under the law to remedy the situation while respecting the Senate’s role as a co-equal branch of government.
“We are trying to achieve some form of stability so that people can get on with their lives, so that people can plan ahead for their future, so that people can count on the assistance of government during this time of an emergency,” he said.
“And we cannot do that if the Legislature decides to stay at home and have a vacation.”
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