KIKO CALLS FOR AN ALL-SENATORS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
PLANNING WORKSHOP FOR THE 14TH CONGRESS

"We need to strategically plan for the legislative agenda for the 14th Congress so that we can rally behind a common purpose. We need to call on the expertise of various sectors, especially in the area of education, energy and finance. We need to consider the results of the recently held National Summit on Extra-judicial Killings and certify as urgent measures that will avert the injustices and the forced disappearances. We need to take a look at the JPEPA treaty and th UN Conventions and Protocols that would create the International Criminal Court and the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture or the OPCAT and determine how soon we can ratify if ever. We need to look at the repercussions of the JPEPA. In the same manner that we investigated EO 464 and PP1017, we need to discuss as a body how we can create boundaries of command responsibility, as it is our duty to do so as a check and balance on the executive. We need to consider the urgent call for drastic reforms from our people."

"I am calling for an all-senators workshop to thresh out a common legislative agenda for the next three years to be able to prioritize laws that would promote better governance and management in this administration. We should focus on that which will unite us, areas wherein we can agree on rather than dwell on our differences if we are to deliver in the area of meaningful legislation. The elections are over, political fighting should now give way to governing and collective efforts at identifying solutions to the serious problems confronting the nation. It is now time to set aside our differences and unite and work together and an all-senators workshop will facilitate this. The last elections showed that our people want to see their leaders performing and they want to see less of politicking and self-serving antics from politicians whether in the administration or the opposition."