Journal No. 7
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Senate Pasay City SESSION NO. 7 Monday, August 6,2007 FOURTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST REGULAR SESSION SESSION NO. 7 Monday, August 6,2007 CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL At 4:03 p.m., the Senate President, Hon. Manny Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary of the Villar, called the session to order. Senate, Einma Lirio-Reyes, called the roll, to which the following senators responded: PRAYER Angara, E. J. Gordon, R. J. Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago read the prayer Aquino 111, B. S. C. Honasan, G. B. entitled, Daily Prayers Dissolve Your Cares, to wit: Arroyo, J. P. Lacson, P. M. I meet God in the morning and go Biazon, R. G. Lapid, M. L. M. with Him through the day, Cayetano, A. P. S. Legarda, L. Then in the stillness of the night Cayetano, C. P. S. Madrigal, M. A. before sleep comes I pray Defensor Santiago, M Pangilinan, F. N. That God will just take over all the Ejercito Estrada, J. Pimentel Jr., A. Q. problems I can’t solve; Enrile, J. P. Revilla Jr., R. B. And in the peacehlness of sleep Villar, M. my cares will all dissolve. Escudero, F. J. G. So when I open my eyes to greet With 20 senators present, the Chair declared the another day, presence of a quomm. 1’11 find myself renewed in strength and there will open up a way To meet what seemed impossible Senator Zubiri arrived after the roll call. for me to solve alone; And once again I’ll be assured that Senator Roxas was absent on account of sickness 1 am never on my own. For there can be no failures or Senator Trillanes was unable to attend the hopeless, unsaved sinners, session. If we enlist the help of God, who makes all losers winners. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE PRESENCE So meet Him in the morning and go OF GUESTS with Him through the day; And thank Him for His guidance At this juncture, Senator Pangilinan acknowledged each evening when you pray. the presence of Masbate Mayor Socrates “Ates” And if yon follow faithfully this Tuason, and the delegation from the American Council daily way to pray, of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL): Republicans You will never in your lifetime face ~ Hon. Bill Huizenga, Member of the Michigan State another hopeless day. House of Representatives; Hon. Roger James Roth, Amen. Member of the Wisconsin State House of Represent- atives, and Ms. Marcia Rubensohn, Associate General NATIONAL ANTHEM Counsel of the Georgia Municipal Association; The Senate Choir led the singing of the national Democracts - Hon. Nicole Parra, Member of the anthem and thereafter rendered the song entitled, California State Assembly; Ms. Jill Krowinski, Isting Dugo, I,sang Lahi, Isang Musika. Executive Director of the Vermont Democratic Party; ,&- 116 MONDAY, AUGUST 6 7nn7 Hon. Gerron Levi, Member of the Maryland House Senate Bill No. 253. entitled of Delegates; Hon. John Lesch, Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and Hon. Ted AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT Martin Vick, Member of the South Carolina House NO. 9280, OTHERWISE KNOWN of Representatives; and their escort Hon. Brad Cole, AS THE “CUSTOMS BROKER ACT Mayor of Carbondale, Illinois. OF 2004,” AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL Introduced by Senator Mar Roxas Upon motion of Senator Pangilinan, there being no objection, the Body dispensed with the reading of To the Committees on Civil Service and the Journal of Session No. 6 and considered it Government Reorganization; and Trade and approved. Commerce REFERENCE OF BUSINESS Senate Bill No. 254. entitled The Secretary of the Senate read the following AN ACT PROVIDING FOR UPGRADE matters and the Chair made the corresponding OF THE STANDARD SALARY OF referrals: ALL GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL, PROVIDING BENEFITS FOR EARLY BILLS ON FIRST READING RETIREMENT AND VOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM GOVERNMENT Senate Bill No. 251, entitled SERVICE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6758, AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT ENTITLED AN ACT PRESCRIBING NO. 53, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE A REVISED COMPENSATION AND KNOWN AS AN ACT TO EXEMPT POSlTION CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM THE PUBLISHER, EDITOR OR IN THE GOVERNMENT, AND FOR REPORTER OF ANY PUBLICATION OTHER PURPOSES FROM REVELING THE SOURCE OF PUBLISHED NEWS OR INFORM- Introduced by Senator Mar Roxas ATlON OBTAINED IN CONFIDENCE BY INCLUDING WITHIN ITS To the Committees Civil Service and COVERAGE JOURNALIST FROM Government Reorganization; and Finance BROADCAST NEWS AGENCIES, INTERNET PUBLICATIONS AND Senate Bill No. 255, entitled WIRE SERVICES Introduced by Senator Mar Roxas AN ACT ALLQWING THE OMBUDSMAN TO EXAMINE ALL THE BANK To the Committee on Publie Information DEPOSITS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS and Mass Media WITH THE LATTER’S WRITTEN CONSENT BY AMENDING Senate Bill No. 252, entitled SECTION 8 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6713, OTHERWISE KNOWN AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE AS THE CODE OF CONDUCT TRADE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE, AND ETHICAL STANDARDS APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF, FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EMPLOYEES Introduced by Senator Mar Roxas Introduced by Senator Mar Roxas To the Committees on Trade and Commerce; To the Committee on Banks, Financial Foreign Relations; and Finance Institutions and Currencies db@ MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2007 Senate Bill No. 256, entitled PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, AS AMENDED BY R.A. NO. 7975 AN ACT TO PROVIDE A PERCENTAGE AND R.A. 8249, AND FOR OTHER OF THE VALUE OF FORFEITED PURPOSES PROPERTIES DERIVED FROM ANTI-CORRUPTION CASES PROSE- Introduced by Senator Mar Roxas CUTED BY THE OMBUDSMAN TO BE EARMARKED FOR THE OFFICE To the Committee on Justice and Human OF THE OMBUDSMAN AMENDING Rights FOR THIS PURPOSE SECTION 6 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1379 OTHERWISE Senate Bill No. 260, entitled KNOWN AS THE FORFEITURE LAW AN ACT PROVIDING PROTECTION Introduced by Senator Mar Roxas AND BENEFITS TO PERSONS WHO DISCLOSE CONDUCT CONSTITUT- To the Committee on Justice and Human ING GRAFT AND CORRUF'TION AND Rights TO WITNESSES FOR THE PROSECU- TION THEREOF, PROVIDING PENAL- Senate Bill No. 257, entitled TIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES AN ACT ALLOWING PRIVATE PRO- SECUTORS TO ASSIST THE OFFICE Introduced by Senator Mar Roxas OF THE OMBUDSMAN IN THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECU- To the Committees on Civil Service and TION OF CASES, AMENDING FOR Government Reorganization; and Finance THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6770 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE Senate Bill No. 261, entitled OMBUDSMAN ACT OF 1989 AN ACT CONSTITUTING THE NATIONAL Introduced by Senator Mar Roxas PROSECUTION SERVICE INTO AN AUTONOMOUS OFFICE OF THE To the Committee on Justice and Human PROSECUTOR GENERAL AND FOR Rights OTHER PURPOSES Senate Bill No. 258, entitled Introduced by Senator Pangilinan AN ACT INCREASING THE NUMBER To the Committees on Justice and Human OF SANDIGANBAYAN DIVISIONS, Rights, Civil Service and Government Reorgan- AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ization; and Finance PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, AS AMENDED BY R.A. N0.7975 AND Senate Bill No. 262, entitled R.A. 8249, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES AN ACT REORGANIZING AND Introduced by Senator Mar Roxas MODERNIZING THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND To the Committees on Justice and Human PROVIDING NECESSARY FUND Rights; and Finance THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Senate Bill No. 259, entitled Introduced by Senator Pangilinan AN ACT STREAMLINING THE JURIS- DICTION OF TEE SANDIGANBA.YAN, To the Committees on Justice and Human AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE Rights; and Financefl 118 MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2007 Senate Bill No. 263, entitled Introduced by Senator Pangilinan AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 31 OF To the Committees on National Defense and REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6770, OTHER- Security; Justice and Human Rights; and Finance WISE KNOWN AS THE “OMBUDSMAN ACT OF 1989,” AS AMENDED Senate Bill No. 267, entitled ALLOWING PRIVATE LAWYERS TO ACT AS PROSECUTORS ON AN ACT STRENGTHENING AND BEHALF OF THE OMBUDSMAN EXPANDING THE JURISDICTION OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION Introduced by Senator Pangilinan ON THE PROMOTION AND DEV- ELOPMENT OF SCUBA SPORTS, To the Committee on Justice and Human AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE Rights LETTER OF INSTRUCTION NO. 745, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Senate Bill No. 264, entitled Introduced by Senator Pangilinan AN ACT PENALIZING ENFORCED OR INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCE To the Committees on Tourism: and Games, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Amusement and Sports Introduced by Senator Pangilinan Senate Bill No. 268, entitled To the Committees on Justice and Human AN ACT FURTHER ENSURING THE Rights; Constitutional Amendments, Revision USE OF GENERIC NAMES IN THE of Codes and Laws; and r’+ mance MANUFACTURE, PRESCRIPTION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF DRUGS Senate Bill No. 265, entitled AND MEDICINES AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN SECTIONS AN ACT EXPANDING THE EXCEPTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 6675, FROM THE NIGHT WORK PROHIBI- OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE TION OF WOMEN EMPLOYEES, “GENERICS ACT OF 1988,” AND FOR THEREBY AMENDING ARTICLE 131 OTHER PURPOSES OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE FOUR HUNDRED FORTY-TWO (P.D. 442), Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE To the Committee on Health and Demo- PHILIPPINES graphy Introduced by Senator Pangilinan Senate Bill No. 269. entitled To the Committee on Labor, Employment AN ACT EXEMPTING THE BANK and Human Resources Development DEPOSITS OF SENIOR CITIZENS FROM THE 20% WITHHOLDING Senate Bill No. 266, entitled TAX ON INTEREST INCOME, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE AN ACT CREATING AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432 COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH FACT-FINDING INVEST- Introduced by Senator Legarda IGATION OF ALLEGATIONS OF GRAFT AND CORRUPTION IN To ,the Committees on Ways and Means; THE ARMED FORCES OF THE and Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Develop- PHILIPPINES mentK P MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2007 119 Senate Bill No. 270, entitled WITHIN THEIR SUBDIVISIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CAREER EXECUTIVE SYSTEM Introduced by Senator Pimentel Jr.