Speak Now!

Senate President Franklin Drilon today said that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas should now declare his intention to run for President in the 2016 elections.

"We have an official process in the party but I would take the position that if he is indeed interested—and I think he is—he should declare now his intention to present himself as a candidate for the presidency in 2016," Drilon said.

"I believe that the policies and reforms of the President should be continued, and the people should know what will happen after 2016," he added.

Drilon said he believed President Aquino would "endorse someone who would be comfortable with continuing the reforms he has started. These reforms have taken root and resulted in unprecedented improvements in our stock market, in investments, and in efforts to alleviate poverty."       

According to the Senate President, "It is important for me to have a candidate who will continue these reforms. That is why my view—and this is a personal view—is that Secretary Roxas should now declare if he will be presenting himself as a candidate in 2016." 

Contempt raps

In reply to a question regarding the process in the Senate of citing a person in contempt, more particularly on the issue whether the action needs the approval of the Senate President, Drilon said: "The action of the committee to cite an individual or group of persons in contempt does not require the approval of the Senate President. However, when the committee orders the issuance of the arrest and/or the detention order, the approval of the Senate President would be needed or would become necessary."

Senators' consultants

                                                          

On the issue of Senate consultants, Drilon said: "Each senator is given a budget. He uses his budget in accordance with his own priorities, his own needs. The Senate, as part of its independent nature, gives complete discretion to each office of the senator insofar as his own budget is concerned."  
"We believe that that is the proper thing to do to make sure that the independence of each senator is protected," Drilon averred.

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