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Date Posted: 18:29:27 11/13/12 Tue
Author: i
Subject: Nov14, 2012 news

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/6855-enrile-foils-cayetanobid-to-slip-in-rh-bill


Enrile foils Cayetanobid to slip in RH bill
• Written by By Gerry Baldo and Angie M. Rosales
• Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00
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Saying he’s not ready to discuss the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile challenged Sen. Pia Cayetano to try his patience, saying he is prepared to deal with whatever moves to be taken against him, including his ouster as head of the Senate just so she could have the bill voted upon by the upper chamber.
“I’m ready for any remedy that the gentle lady would want to take. If you want to put it into a vote that I’d be censured or I’ll be kicked out as a Senate president or I’ll be out-voted, so be it,” Enrile said in challenging Cayetano, co-sponsor of the RH bill in the Senate.
The latest exchanges on the floor yesterday between Enrile and Cayetano was prompted by Cayetano’s attempt3 to lure the Senate chief as well as another colleague, Sen. Ralph Recto, to resume floor deliberations on the bill before they take up anew debates on the sin tax bill, which is a priority measure, during plenary proceedings.
Cayetano tried to pull a fast one on the Senate president in attempting to steer plenary debates from the sin tax measure to the RH bill as she claimed before colleagues that Enrile and Recto are the only ones listed to interpellate her.
“My understanding is there are only two senators left to interpellate, that is the Senate president and Sen. Ralph Recto. And in the agenda, there are I think six or eight names listed. But I have spoken to all of these people, none of them will be making any amendment. So I only have two senators, both of whom have told me, that they only have two simple amendments. So I think my request is very reasonable,” she said.
She lamented anew before colleagues that the bill has been pending for approval for two years now and had been apparently set aside as they gave way for the deliberations of the money measures.
“I only ask for 30 minutes to finish the amendments from these two gentlemen. I understand that during the caucus, the Senate president had requested that the body be present and if that is the case, then I will also request my colleagues to be present. But given the previous days during the interpellation of the sin tax bill, people have other things to do, they go to the office, so one proposal I have, since I’m only asking for 30 minutes, can this be taken up before the sin tax (bill)?” Cayetano asked.
“It doesn’t have to be (prioritized) but I am only being reasonable. If I take it up after and some of you will question the quorum, that is unfair to me, the sponsors and to every person who would like to see this measure come to its rightful end. So that is my point of privilege that I would like to raise and I put that on the floor. Thank you,” she said, adding that it’s also her right as a sponsor to defend this bill that she claimed that a lot of people are waiting for.
Enrile, however, proved that he could not be badgered by Cayetano in order to wrap up the debates and fast track the voting on third reading for the proposed Senate version.
The Senate president stood his ground, saying that he’s not yet ready and practically emphasized that he cannot be compelled by Cayetano.
“I have also a bill here that has been pending for 10 years and I’m waiting for it to be discussed in this chamber, (but) I never complained. And I don’t think there’s anyone who can compel any senator to jam simply because they want to him to jam. I’m ready to defend my position in any debate here. So I hope that they will understand that I’m not ready yet, to propose any amendment,” Enrile said in taking the floor to respond to Cayetano.
She likewise refused to back down as she tried to solicit an answer from Enrile as to when he will present his amendments “because during the caucus, his honor informed me that he will be ready and so I was just basing it on that.”
“I do not know Madame senator when I’m ready,” he retorted.
At the House of Representatives, another version of the RH bill faces the problem of quorum.
Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. said the biggest problem that plagues the reproductive health bill is the lack of quorum and the period of amendments should have been terminated had the problem been ironed out.
“Well supposedly we have to start with the discussions in the period of amendments, yes until tomorrow but the biggest dare today is how to get the quorum because yesterday we tried but no one of the RH champions were present,” Baguilat said during the weekly Ugnayan sa Batasan Media Forum yesterday.
Baguilat, however, expressed optimism that the House could muster a quorum until today to discuss the bill.
He said that the House leaderships seem to be helpless in calling on the members to attend the sessions even as he noted that there is no need for the president to dictate upon the members of Congress to act on a certain measure.
He said that even with the “text brigade” of the Speaker, House members may not accede to the call.
Baguilat shared the view of the Speaker and President Aquino that the bill should now be voted upon by the members of the House.
Some administration lawmakers have already expressed serious apprehensions that voting for the RH Bill could adversely affect their political careers.
They said that it is difficult to go against the Catholic Church, which has vehemently opposed the bill.
“I will surely lose if I vote in favor of the (RH) bill,” said one of the lawmakers.

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