News Roundup 30 May 2022
May 30, 2022 • 4 min Read
Drilon: Pharmally probe not waste of time, next Congress can still use findings | INQUIRER.NET – The Senate Pharmally investigation is “not a waste of time,” according to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, who said the next Congress can still adopt the blue ribbon committee’s findings on the matter. At present, the draft committee report on the Senate blue ribbon panel’s investigation into the government’s transactions with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. has yet to be filed due to lack of signatures from senators. “It is not certainly a waste of time, even if no committee report can be supported by the majority, then we exposed the anomalies which I am sure has put people on notice this should not be repeated,” Drilon said in an interview with reporters on Monday. “So even if no committee report is filed, that is already the effect of that investigation, so it is not a waste of time,” he added. Drilon pointed out that a member of the 19th Congress “revive” the Pharmally probe by filing a resolution calling for an investigation. “What the next Congress can do…would be for a member of Congress, particularly a senator, to file a resolution asking for the investigation of Pharmally. And that is referred to the blue ribbon [committee] of the 19th Congress can adopt all the findings, all the evidence, all the testimony in the Pharmally in the 18th Congress,” he said. These, Drilon explained, can be “reproduced” as records of the 19th Congress. “Call some more witnesses if they want to or submit a report on the basis of what is on record which includes the record of the 18th Congress and submit a report to the 19th Congress,” he added. “Not everything will go to waste because they can utilize the evidence gathered,” the minority leader said.
To approve, bypass or reject? CA confirmation of Duterte’s men hangs in the balance | INQUIRER.NET – The fate of the top heads of three constitutional offices hangs in the balance as they face the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday, June 1, the last day of the 18th Congress. On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri revealed that many members of the incoming Cabinet feel President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should be given “courtesy” to pick the heads of the Commission on Elections, Commission on Audit, and Civil Service Commission. “I know for a fact that many members of the future Cabinet of President BBM (Marcos initial) have asked me personally na kung pwede ibigay na lang ‘yung opportunity na ‘yan sa ating bagong pangulo, which I think is a very reasonable request,” Zubiri said in an interview with reporters in the Senate. “To be honest about it, we had a discussion about it in the proclamation when we were briefly in the executive lounge may mga kausap akong mga incoming Cabinet Secretaries and ‘yan ang pakiusap nila sa akin,” he continued. “And I feel it’s very reasonable. Remember, this is the President that got 31 million votes, highest ever in the history of our country’s electoral process so malaki ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa kanya.” Zubiri made the revelation during the hearing of the CA’s committee on constitutional commissions and offices, after he moved for the deferment of the confirmation of Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan, Comelec Commissioners George Garcia and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri, COA Chairperson Rizalina Justol, and CSC Chairman Karlo Nograles. The five officials were all appointed by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte.
With transport groups protesting possible second term, Tugade says DOTr ‘delivered’ | PHILSTAR.COM – Despite transport and commuter groups protesting his rumored re-appointment, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade claimed Monday that his department “delivered” during the six years of the Duterte administration as he urged Filipinos to support the incoming administration. Though President Rodrigo Duterte promised to deal with the metro’s traffic problem within six months, those in the transport sector say the past six years only worsened the problems they were facing. Duterte eventually chalked the unfinished works up to lack of time. “Never before in the history of this country has the DOTr done so much in so short of time. I have to be proud notwithstanding COVID-19, earthquakes…this is the legacy of President Duterte,” Tugade said in Filipino during the first day of the Duterte Legacy Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center. “We may not have solved all the transport problems in the [past] 6 years. But for the ones we weren’t able to do, please also accept that we have addressed many…I just hope you will pray and help the coming administrations to continue this project,” Tugade also said in mixed Filipino and English.
