Marcos Calls For Congress Special Session On June 17

In line with his appeal to lawmakers to get back to work, President Marcos on Monday, June 15, called Congress to a special session beginning tomorrow, June 17, to allow the passage of priority bills and confirm appointments that are languishing because of the leadership row in the Senate.

Marcos urged lawmakers to urgently consider the passage of eight measures, including the anti-dynasty bill, in Proclamation No. 1318, containing his order for special sessions.

Although Marcos mentioned it in a previous interview, the bill providing for a supplemental budget to ease the impact of the Middle East conflict was noticeably absent in the proclamation.

Malacañang has not responded to queries on why there was no mention of the proposed supplemental budget in the proclamation, which was issued on the same day the US and Iran announced that they have reached a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Aside from the anti-dynasty bill, the President is also pushing for the approval of the establishment of a National Center for Geriatric Health, amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or GASTPE Act, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations or AICS Act, amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged and Conflict-Affected Areas Schools Act, amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act and the bill on the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program.

The proclamation also called for the passage of “such other measures aimed towards strengthening social protection and uplifting the lives of the Filipino people.”

“The special session will also enable the Commission on Appointments to act on pending appointments to key positions in the Cabinet, military and foreign service. This will help ensure continuity and stability across government institutions,” the proclamation read.

‘The President has spoken’

Palace press officer Claire Castro said the call for a special session of Congress reflected the President’s desire to fast-track bills designed to strengthen social protection and provide support to the needy.

“The President has spoken. Get back to work,” Castro said in a video statement.

“The President said choose what will benefit the nation, not the interest of the few. Do not be subservient to the pursuit of selfish ambitions, remain faithful to your duties. That is what the President wants,” she added.

Last week, Castro said Marcos wanted the leadership dispute in the Senate settled before calling for a special session. According to her, nothing would be accomplished if the chamber’s internal issues persist.

The Senate witnessed two leadership changes in less than a month, starting with the coup that unseated then Senate president Vicente Sotto III and installed Sen. Alan Cayetano as the chamber’s leader last May 11.

After 23 days, allies of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian elected him as Senate president pro tempore and acting Senate president, but Cayetano’s bloc has refused to recognize the election.

The Marcos administration recognizes the leadership of Gatchalian, describing his election as “in line with the law and rule of law.”

Responsibility

Gatchalian appealed to his colleagues to attend the special session.

“The Senate is aware of its responsibility. The Senate recognizes its duty, and it will fulfill it with utmost skill and dedication,” he said.

“These are measures that directly affect the lives of every Filipino. Every measure listed here is for the people and we will make sure each of the measures would be passed swiftly, orderly and correctly,” Gatchalian said.

The Senate is expected to convene its special session at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

Amid Cayetano’s insistence that he was still Senate president and that his group’s attendance in the special session remains to be seen, senators backing Gatchalian said they would be present to tackle the critical backlog in priority bills.

“We in the majority welcome the call for a special session on June 17, and we are ready to do our mandate, work hard and help the Senate act on urgent matters before us,” Zubiri said in a statement on Monday.

“We will report for work and we will do our duty for the people. The Senate has always had the capacity to rise above difficult moments, and I trust that we can approach this session with seriousness, respect for our mandate and a clear sense of responsibility to the people,” Zubiri stressed.

“No drama, no delay, no excuse to skip work,” he said in Filipino. “We should be ready to work and ready to help move forward whatever must be acted upon for the public good.”

“There are really many pending measures. In the CA – the appointment of three colonels as generals and the application of two basketball players to become Filipino citizens,” Sen. Erwin Tulfo told reporters.

Appeal for unity

Speaker Faustino Dy III welcomed President Marcos’ call for a special session and urged senators to set aside their differences and let nationalism prevail over their personal interests by helping pass the House-approved bill against fake news.

“The House stands ready to heed the President’s call and continue advancing legislation that directly responds to the needs of our people,” the administration stalwart and head of the 318-member legislative chamber said.

Lawmaker-sibling Reps. Migz and Luigi Villafuerte also called on their Senate counterparts to pass the House-approved measure against fake news.

Migz Villafuerte, who sits as chairman of the House committee on information and communications technology, and his brother Luigi are among the authors of HB 9465 or the proposed measure against fake news.

“Given how misinformation or disinformation can spread with breakneck speed via the internet, this House-passed bill against fake news needs to be passed, not to curtail freedom of speech but to repulse the quick spread of lies or phony information with the specific intent of demolishing reputations, precipitating public harm or undermining national security,” Migz Villafuerte said.

For House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin, it would be highly irresponsible for any lawmaker to skip the special session of Congress tomorrow.

“It is possible (to boycott the session), but it is highly irresponsible. Because that is our job,” she told “Storycon” on One News.

“The call for a boycott has put legislation into a stalemate, which is highly irresponsible and not conducive to public service,” she added, referring to the actions of Cayetano and his allies.

“I still believe… that senators will heed the call of the people for the Senate to do its job,” the lawmaker said. — With Neil Jayson Servallos, Delon Porcalla, Janvic Mateo