REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Senate Pasay City Journal SESSION NO. 75 Monday, May 12,2008 FOURTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST REGULAR SESSION SESSION NO. 75 Monday, May 12,2008 CALL TO ORDER Senator Trillanes was unable to attend the session as he is under detention. At 3:28 p.m., the Senate President, Hon. Manny Villar, called the session to order. APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL PRAYER Upon motion of Senator Pangilinan, there being no objection, the Body dispensed with the reading of the The Body observed a minute of silent prayer. Journal of Session No. 74 and considered it approved. NATIONAL ANTHEM REFERENCE OF BUSINESS The Mapua Concert Singers led the singing of The Secretary of the Senate read the following the national anthem and thereafter rendered the matters and the Chair made the correspondmg referrals: song, entitled Pilipino, Mabuhay Ka. BILLS ON FIRST READING ROLL CALL Senate Bill No. 2257, entitled Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary of the Senate, Emma Lirio-Reyes, called the roll, to which AN ACT PREVENTING THE MAC- the following senators responded: TURE OR IMPORTATION OF PRODUCTS WITH TOXIC AND Angara, E. J. Honasan, G. B. HAZARDOUS PACKAGING Aquiuo 111, B. S. C. Lapid, M. L. M. Arroyo, J. P. Legarda, L. Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Biazon, R. G. Madrigal, M. A. Santiago Cayetano, A. P. C. S. Pangilinan, F. N. Cayetano, C. P. S. Pimentel Jr., A. Q. To the Committees on Trade and Commerce; Defensor Santiago, M. Revilla Jr., R. B. and Health and Demography Ejercito Estrada, J. Villar, M. Enrile, J. P. Zubiri, J. M. F. Senate Bill No. 2258, entitled Escudero, F. J. G. AN ACT LIMITING THE CONSECUTIVE With 19 senators present, the Chair declared HOURS OF WORK BY NURSES the presence of a quorum. Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Senators Gordon and Roxas arrived after the Santiago roll call. To the Committees on Labor, Employment Senator Lacson was unable to attend the session and Human Resources Development; and Health due to a previously accepted engagement. and Demography* P 614 MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008 Senate Bill No. 2259, entitled Senate Bill No. 2261, entitled AN ACT TO REGULATE THE SALE OR AN ACT INCREASING THE PENAL- DISTRIBUTION OF MERCURY TIES FOR ELECTION OFFENSES THERMOMETERS ATTENDED BY VIOLENCE, COER- CION, INTIMIDATION, FORCE OR Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor THREATS AND FOR OTHER Santiago ELECTION OFFENSES To the Committee on Health and Demo- Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor graphy Santiago RESOLUTION To the Committee on Constitutional Amend- Proposed Senate Resolution No. 389, entitled ments, Revision of Codes and Laws RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING TO Senate Bill No. 2262, entitled THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA) THE IMMEDIATE AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING DOCUMENTATION, VALIDATION, THE HOME DEVELOPMENT PERFORM THE NECESSARY MUTUAL FUND, TO BE KNOWN DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTA- HEREON AS THE PAG-IBIG FUND, TION AND REPATRIATION OF AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PD OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS 1752, AS AMENDED, AND FOR (OFWs) WHO ARE DETAINED AND OTHER PURPOSES STRANDED IN KUWAIT, JORDAN AND THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri ARABIA, INCLUDING FILIPINO To the Committees on Banks, Financial Insfitu- DRIVERS ILLEGALLY RECRUITED tions and Currencies; Urban Planning, Housing AND FORCED TO DRIVE FROM and Resettlement; and Ways and Means KUWAIT TO IRAQ Introduced by Senator Manny Villar Senate Bill No. 2263, entitled To the Committees on Labor, Employment AN ACT GRANTING THE NATIONAL and Human Resources Development: and GRID CORPORATION OF THE Foreign Relations PHILIPPINES A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, FINANCE, ADDITIONAL REFERENCE OF BUSINESS MANAGE, IMPROVE, EXPAND, OPERATE, MAINTAIN, REHARI- BILLS ON FIRST READING LITATE, REPAIR AND REFURBISH Senate Bill No. 2260, entitled THE NATIONWIDE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE AN ACT REQUIRING PERSONS UNDER PHILIPPWES FOURTEEN (14) YEARS OF AGE WHO ICE SKATE TO WEAR PROTECTIVE Introduced by Senator Enrile HELMETS, AND FOR ICE SKATING FACILITIES TO SUPPLY HELMETS To the Committee on Public Services AND HELMET SAFETY INFORM- Senate Bill No. 2265, entitled ATION Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTAB- Santiago LISHMENT OF DRUG REHABILITA- TION CENTER IN EVERY REGION To the Committee on Health and Demo- OF THE COUNTRY AND APPRO- graphy PRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR& MONDAY. MAY 12.2008 675 Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. the letter of even date of Her Excellency, Trillanes President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, addressed to Speaker Prospem C. Nograles of the House To the Committees on Public Order and of Representatives, certifying to the necessity Illegal Drugs; Local Government; and Finance of the immediate enactment of House Bill No. 3971, entitled Senate Bill No. 2266, entitled AN ACT GRANTmG TAX RELIEF FOR AN ACT DECLARING THE SPECIAL INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS BY SHARI’A BAR EXAMINATION AS REPEALING SECTION 34(L) AND CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION AMENDING SECTIONS 22,24,34, 35 AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE AND 79 OF THE NATIONAL R.A. 1080 ENTITLED AN ACT INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF DECLARING THE BAR AND 1997, AS AMENDED, AND FOR BOARD EXAMINATIONS AS CIVIL OTHER PURPOSES, SERVICE EXAMINATIONS pursuant to the provisions of Article VI, Section Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. 26(2) of the 1987 Constitution. Trillanes To the Committee on Ways and Means To the Committees on Civil Service and Government Reorganization; and Justice and COMMITTEE REPORTS Human Rights Committee Report No. 51, prepared and submitted Senate Bill No. 2267, entitled jointly by the Committees on Cooperatives; Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies; AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT and Laws; Finance; Urban Planning, Housing AUTHORITY AND APPROPRIATING and Resettlement; and Ways and Means, on FUNDS THEREFOR Senate Bill No. 2264, with Senators Biazon, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Pimentel Jr., Juan Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Miguel F. Zubiri and Manny Villar as authors Trillanes thereof, entitled To the Committees on Energy; Public AN ACT AMENDING THE COOPERA- Services; and Finance TIVE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES TO BE KNOWN AS THE PHILIP- RESOLUTION PINE COOPERATIVE CODE OF 2008. Proposed Senate Resolution No. 391, entitled recommending its approval in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 184, 428, 444, 1147, 1553, RESOLUTION HONORING WORLD and 1924. RED CROSS RED CRESCENT DAY Sponsor: Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri Introduced by Senator Gordon To the Calendar for Ordinary Business To the Committee on Rules Committee Report No. 52, prepared and submitted COMMUNICATION jointly by the Committee on Foreign Relations; Finance; and National Defense and Security, on Letter from Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita Senate Joint Resolution No. 12, with Senator of the Office of the President of the Philippines, Miriam Defensor Santiago as author thereof, dated May 7, 2008, transmitting to the Senate entitled# y“ 676 MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008 JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING THE Pangulong Estrada ay lnmabas agad-agad CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ang legal opinion ni Secretary Perez na ini- ON NATIONAL TERRITORY, indorso ang $470-million hydroelectric power contract nu iginawad sa isang kumpanya mula sa bansang Argentina na tinatawag na IMPSA recommending its approval in substitution of (Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Senate Joint Resolution No. 9. Anonima). Sponsor: Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago Mula sa transaksiyong iyon ay kinikilan ni Ginoong Perez ng US$2 million si dating Congressman Mark Jimenez ng Maynila nu To the Calendar for Ordinary Business siyang nagsilbing tnlay sa multi-million dollar contract para sa proyekto upang buhayin at ” ACKNOWLEDGMENT pangasiwaan ang 750-megawatt Caliraya- OF THE PRESENCE OF GUESTS Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) power complex sa Laguna. Hindi pa nakuntento sa pangingikil, At this juncture, Senator Pmgilinm acknowledged tinakot pa ni Ginoong Perez si Ginoong the presence in the gallery of the Punong Barangays Jimenez na siya ay ipakukulong sa City Jail ng of the Municipality of Tapaz, Capiz led by Sonny G. Maynila kasama ng ibang kriminal nu may Gabucayan, president of the Lisa ng mga Barangay, mabibigat na koso kung hindi siya gagawa ng naga mapanirang affidavit laban kay Pangdong and representatives of the Cooperative Development Estrada. Kaalinsabay nito ay tinakot din ni Authority and the different cooperatives. Ginoong Perez sina G. Carlos Arellano, dating manager ng SSS, at G. Federico Pascual, dating PRIVILEGE SPEECH manager ng GSIS, upang magbigay ng salaysay OF SENATOR EJERCITO ESTRADA ng paninira laban kay Pangulong Estrada. At ganito pa ang sinabi niyang kataga doon Availing himself of the privilege hour, Senator sa dalawang tao na “kung ang Presidente ay Ejercito Estrada delivered the following speech naipakulong namin, sino ba kayo para hindi namin maipaknlong?” IBA ANG TLNITINGNAN SA TINITITIGAN Iba ang tinitingnan sa tinititigan. Hindi lamang nilulumot sa tagal ng panahon ang I rise today on a matter of collective privi- lege regarding the long overdue criminal case paglilitis ni Ginoong Perez ang hindi pantay, filed by the Ombudsman against Mr. Hernando kung ihahambing sa kaso ng aking ama, kundi pati na rin sa nri ng krimen na inihain kay “Nani” B. Perez. As a member of this august Chamber, I am alarmed by the manner by which Ginoong Perez. this government exercises selective implement- Naninindigan kami nu ang krimen na ation and prosecution of cases under OUI laws. plunder nu ikinaso sa akin at lay Pangnlong Estrada