Press Release
August 4, 2014

Transcript of Interview of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon

On the suspension order against Senator Estrada

SPFMD: When the order becomes executory, amin pong susundin ang utos ng Sandiganbayan kagaya po ng kay Senator Enrile and Senator Estrada. Binibigyan ng pagkakataon si Senator Revila ng Sandiganbayan na mag-file ng motion for reconsideration within 15 days. Once the court has resolved and disposed with the motion for reconsideration, or if no MR will be filed after 15 days, then we will implement the suspension order.

Yung kay Senators Enrile and Estrada, wala pa rin po?

SPFMD: Hindi pa dahil nag-manifest. In fact, si Senator Estrada filed a MR; si Senator Enrile has written a letter to our office to signify their intention to file a MR. The order of the Sandiganbayan said they are preventively suspended unless they file a MR. So, yung Sandiganbayan mismo ang nagsabi sa amin na huwag n'yo muna i-implement kung magpa-file ng MR.

Yung budget kailang ita-tackle?

SPFMD: The tradition is that umpisahan ang hearing sa budget a few days after the House has started hearing the Development Budget Coordinating Committee. Unang hakbang ay ang pag-meeting sa mga economic managers sa Kongreso ng budget at pagkatapos sa Kongreso, dito naman sa Senado. Iyan po ay depende kung kailan mag-briefing ang executive sa House at pagkatapos non, a day or two, immediately, sa Senado naman.

Ano po ang take ninyo doon sa define savings na after six months na hindi na-utilize, pwede nang i-declare na savings?

SPFMD: In general, without going to specifics of six months, we are in favour of clarifying what we meant by savings. Huwag nating kalimutan na ang batas na aming ipinasa ay siyang nag-de-define ng savings. Iyan po ang polisiya ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng isang batas. Ngayon, dahilan po sa hindi nagkaintindihan ang Ehekutibo at Korte Suprema tungkol sa depinisyon ng savings, ako po ay pabor na liwanagin ito sa pamamagitan ng isang batas.

Sa House, nag-file na si Cong. Evardone, sa Senate po sino ang magpa-file?

SPFMD: Hindi ko pa alam because that can be interpreted as something to do with the appropriation. Hindi ko lang alam kung may nag-file dito sa Senado. Kaya siguro sila nauna sa House, baka ito ay i-consider na appropriations matter at ang savings ay naka-define sa General Appropriations Act at ang GAA ay manggagaling sa House. We will study further. It is entirely possible that we do it simultaneously.

Sa Bangsamoro, possible pa bang maipasa by the yearend?

SPFMD: At this point, wala pa kaming draft ng Bangsamoro Basic Law. From what I understand, the OPAPP will submit to us the proposed measure sa buwan ng Agosto. Sa ngayon, hindi ko pa alam ang itsura nitong BBL. Ang importante ay the basic law will reflect the agreement in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. We will exert every effort to pass it within the timeframe that we have imposed upon ourselves. Kung hindi, I t think there is still time even if we are able to pass it on the first quarter OF 2015 in order to provide enough period for the ratification of basic law and the election of local officials in the election of 2016.

Update on supplemental budget?

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