Press Release
January 16, 2018

Transcript of Ambush Interview of Senate President Aqulino Pimentel III

On the BBL

SP Pimentel: BBL does not need Cha-cha, it is easier to achieve. It is common-sense.

Q: Bakit parang nag-aaway yung both Houses?

SP Pimentel: Hindi na niya naisip yun, basta the 1987 Constitution authorizes the BBL, so mas medaling gawin.

Q: How do you see the versions of the House and the Senate reconciled?

SP: Bicam mechanism. Basta klinaro ko nga na understanding naman sa Senate voting separately, three-fourths vote from the start, then pag may bicam na, there is now the harmonized version, three-fourths vote ulit separately.

On the House version for presidents' term of 5 years.

SP: Mas gusto ko yata na four years with re-election. Anyway, maliliit na bagay na lang yan, lalabas pa naman sa discussion yan.

On President Duterte preferring a unicameral type of government

SP: Personal na gusto niya yun, pero ang model ng PDP-Laban bicameral because our formula if federal, then bicameral.

On what the focus should be on, charter-change or BBL?

SP: In the context of the 1987 Constitution, so pag-isipan mong dalawa, anong mas achievable, BBL o charter-change? Mas madali ang BBL.

Q: So dapat mag-focus muna sa BBL?

SP: Sabay. Tatlo pa, may impeachment pa. Sabay lahat. Kakayanin, otherwise wala kaming gagawin sa oras namin, plus priorities pa, ganyan talaga ang trabaho. Life is not easy.

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