Term extension of incumbent officials until 2022 only: lawmaker

ABS-CBN News

Posted at Jan 16 2018 09:39 AM

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MANILA - Extending the term of incumbent government officials is necessary once the Filipino people
vote, through a plebiscite, in favor of federalism this year, a lawmaker said Tuesday.

But Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, chairperson of the House committee on constitutional
amendments, said the term extension is for the transition period, which he expects to last only until
2022, before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office.

"There is an extension, pero with public support. Kailangan natin magprepara sa bagong federal form of
government... The new election will coincide with the end of the term of President Duterte in 2022," he
told ANC.

He stressed that term extension, which means a no election scenario in 2019, will only push through if
the people will approve the new charter that the Congress will submit.

No elections in 2019 a 'necessary evil', says Duterte ally

The lawmaker said they expect to finish submitting a draft of the new constitution for a plebiscite in
May or September this year, together with the barangay elections.
He said they will still push for Congress to vote jointly in a constituent assembly, despite opposition by
some senators, believing that this is what the Constitution says.

Senator Panfilo Lacson has already filed a resolution for the Senate to convene as constituent assembly
separate from the House of Representatives.

Lacson calls for Senate to convene as constituent assembly

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Read More: Federalism Cha-cha Constituent Assembly House of Representatives Constitution

Home > News

Lawmaker Garin denies pressuring Ubial for more Dengvaxia budget

RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Posted at Dec 15 2017 10:00 PM

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Iloilo district Rep. Oscar Garin Jr. on Friday refuted former health secretary Paulyn Ubial's claim that he
pressured her into continuing and expanding the controversial dengue vaccine program.

Garin, husband of former health secretary Janette Garin who first implemented the program, said he
was only concerned that parents of children administered with Dengvaxia will have to pay for the third
dose of the vaccine.

Ubial says lawmaker Garin asked for additional Dengvaxia budget

"Records will speak that I only asked her if it is true that some children in NCR will only receive two
doses, and will they pay for the third dose? I conveyed my concern that DOH should provide for the 3
full doses. Simpleng tanong ng isang mambabatas. Hindi ko alam na sa pananaw ni secretary Ubial, ang
tanong pala ay pressure na," Garin said in a statement.

He added that right now he wants to be beside his wife, who underwent an appendectomy, and take
care of personal matters.

"I do hope this somehow clarifies things. In the meantime, permit me to concentrate my energies in
taking care of my wife as she had a rough sailing because of her operation and Senate hearings," he said.

"Also I have to go back to Leyte immediately to attend to my father-in-law's funeral. I hope we have a
chance to have that interview when the congressional hearing in January pushes through."

Garin stressed he is not a member of the Commission on Appointments, which didn't confirm Ubial.

"And for the record, I am not part of the Commission on Appointments and the record of the
proceedings and findings of the CA on why secretary Ubial was rejected is of public record and I
understand it was for many reasons," he said.
Garin is a vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations.