The administration senatorial candidates of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas outlined their legislative priorities if elected to the Senate, vowing to push for measures such as stripping government officials of bank secrecy protection and asserting the Philippines' sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Administration senatorial candidates of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas vowed to push several legislative measures if they secure a Senate seat in May. During a press briefing on Tuesday in this city, the Alyansa candidates outlined their priority bills, should they win the Senate race.
Former senator Panfilo Lacson pledged to refile a measure requiring all public officials, from low-ranking employees to the highest office, to waive their rights under the Bank Secrecy Act. Lacson stated, 'I have filed this bill in past Congresses, and I will file it again. This will cover everyone in government, from clerks and janitors to the president.' He explained that the aim of his proposal is to expose potential ill-gotten wealth by allowing authorities to flag suspicious transactions early. Lacson cited the case of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, whose bank records allegedly showed billions of pesos in transfers between 2018 and 2024.Former Senate president Tito Sotto proposed bills to restrict 'fake news' and institutionalize a 14th month pay for all employees. Makati Mayor Abby Binay aligned herself with Sotto's proposal, advocating for tax exemption for the 13th month pay and, if Sotto's bill is approved, for the 14th month incentives. Former interior secretary Benhur Abalos suggested amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991, noting that some local government units struggle to build schools or hospitals without support from the national government. Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino pledged to file a measure aimed at removing the 12 percent value-added tax on electricity and internet services to alleviate the financial burdens on Filipino households and businesses. Former senator Manny Pacquiao stated his intention to push for a bill that would boost micro, small and medium enterprises to generate jobs. Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar echoed this commitment, advocating for bills strengthening industries that generate jobs, such as construction, infrastructure, and tourism. ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo pledged to file measures mandating PhilHealth to pay 50 percent of every hospital bill and providing sustainable livelihood programs.During the same press conference, four administration senatorial candidates expressed similar views on asserting sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea. Tolentino stated that he joined the administration's alliance because he believes that the right approach to addressing the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea is through multilateral efforts, not bilateral ones. 'We are united with the view of President Marcos that the approach should be multilateral, not just Philippines and China,' he said. Tolentino also highlighted the passage of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law, which he sponsored in the Senate. Sotto, expressing satisfaction that his proposal became law during the 19th Congress, stated that he was the original proponent of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law in the Senate. 'We cannot leave it to the interpretation of Unclos... We needed to have a clear interpretation and for us to declare it,' he said. Adding, 'And they passed it, President Marcos signed it into law. That's why I was thanking him for doing that. So it's a matter of implementing it well at this point,' Sotto concluded. Commenting on this issue for the first time, Abalos emphasized that the Philippines should remember that the West Philippine Sea was already declared to be part of our territory by The Hague and echoed Tolentino's stance on a multilateral approach in addressing issues in the area. 'We won in the tribunal, and that victory is ours. It should not be given to others; this is ours. And from there, there is the multilateral approach that our government should adopt,' he said. Concluding the discussion, Tulfo asserted that the Philippines should fight for its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, upholding Marcos' earlier statement that his administration would not yield even a square inch of its territory.
West Philippine Sea Bank Secrecy Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas Senate Election Philippines Sovereignty
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