Saturday, February 10, 2007
Arroyo calls Congress to special session
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday issued a proclamation calling Congress to a special session to ratify the anti-terror bill and other pending measures.
Arroyo's Proclamation 1235 set the date for the special session to February 19 and 20, just a week after the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 14 elections.
The proclamation effectively cut short the elation of militant members of the House of Representatives over the body's failure to ratify the anti-terrorism bill Thursday or before it went on a four-month recess for the May 14 midterm elections.
House Minority Leader Francis Escudero, who is running for the Senate, said they would be there when Congress holds a special session.
He doubts, however, if enough administration congressmen could make themselves available for two days to ensure a quorum.
House Speaker Jose de Venecia, during a press conference, said he was agreeable to holding a special session to act on pending bills instead of waiting for the resumption of sessions on June 4.
Aside from the anti-terror bill, de Venecia said the House needs to act upon the tax amnesty bill, tourism bill, the cheaper medicines bill; a proposal to plant one billion trees; the proposed political party act; the proposed rationalization of tax incentives; a bill providing for special economic zones; and the compensation bill for human rights victims.
De Venecia admitted that the House would have difficulty mustering a quorum during the special session. Nevertheless, it can still be done just like in the past, he said.
The bicameral conference was able to approve the anti-terror bill when the House agreed to adopt in full the Senate version of the measure.
Commenting on the passage of the bill, Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the anti-terrorism bill is not as strong as the military wanted it to be but welcomed its passage nevertheless.
"It is better than nothing and certainly from that we derive a lot of additional flexibility and capacity in addressing terrorism so thank you Congress. I hope it will be signed (into law) pretty soon," said Esperon. (DBP/VR/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (February 10, 2007 issue)
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