Fr ,rDaily
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The death penaity bill
is one of my personal
priorities
By Hananeel Bordey
Two bold measures, the death
penalty and the dissolution of
marriage bills, will be top in
ihe agenda of former Speaker
Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon
Ah'arez while his rival in ihe
ruling Partido Demokratiko
Pilipino (PDP) Marinduque
Rep. Lord Allan Velasco vows
to pursue the Traffic Crisis Act
in the clash for the top House
of Representatives post.
As the 18th Congress draws
closer, the candidates for the
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The controversial
measure is one of the
remaining bills sought
by President Rodrigo
Duterte to tulfill his
campaign promises
Frorn HgE 1 .
position tiai rulld be left open by
outgoiry Spmker Gloiia Macapagal-
Arroyo laid dosn their agenda.
2 1ltre rleath pendf bill is one
of my personal prio ries in lhe
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. it was cast aside by the Senaie,'
he added.
The controveNial measure is
one of the remaining bils sought
by President Rodrigo Duterte to
fulfill his eanpdim promisei. It
is, however, heavily opposed by
the Roman Catholic church and
rights groups.
Alvarez, a part)'mate and a
friend of ihe President, proposed
and pushed for its legislation
during his term as Speaker but
the Senate did not give pdority
to the biu. He vowed to refile the
dissolution of marriage proposal
at the House.
He said in a previous interview
there are provisions in the Family
Code in the Philippines that
needcd amending.
Alvarez said among the
measures he will file are the
divorce bill srd civil union bill to
back his advocacy.
Poe's bane
Velasco said the ftaffrc Crisis
Act is more urgent since it would
help the Presideni resolve the
congestion of mqjor thor0ughfares
in the country
He said that Congess should
focus on granting emergency
powers to the President to fast
track its implementation.
Mr. Duterte, in his speeches,
y to rum le
the proposal.
VeJasco addedthat he will also
look intb the legislaiion ofthe Coco
Levy lhnd.
The ori$nal version passed by
the 17th Congress received a veto
ftom the President as it could be
"violative of the Constitution."
Velasco said that he will suggest
a method that will solve the
pr0blem in the distribution offimds
iniended to develop the coconut
industry in the Philippines.
He said that instead of
it in a Pb billion
distributing
tranche per ycar, the governrnent
should opt to put these into money
placement and let it earn five
percent to get P5 billion a year
Mr. Duterte blamed Sen.
Grace Poe for blocking the
:Itade
proposal l . Uberalization Act.
'". He added there is.a need for
'Velasco
said this flay authorities scientific legislation that s'ill
will be able to maintain the original improve the communication,
fund intact. technologyr foreign investments
' I{e also vowed to help the and total expenditures in research
President in legislating Federalism, and development,
which was one of Duterte's
campaign.promises, Alkut paxty support
The Nacionalista Party (NP),
Reforms to cor inue meanwhile, threw an all-out
Meanwhile, Teturning Lelte support for its candidate Taguig
Rep. Martin Romualdez said City RepresentatiYe-elect Alan
ihat he will pursue structural Peter Cayetano.
reforms that will be essential in the The NP affirmed its
country's economic development, connitment to support Cayeiano,
*We,
ihe incoming members of in his bid. Cayetano is the curent
the Eth Con$ess, axe faced with NP semetary general.
the important task of punuing vitai The parby said it is confldent
economic legislation needed to sushain that members in Congress will
higher productiviw $o$th. Global suppoft the "most qualified,
irdustrial giarfs see a great potential most experienced and most
in us, but we just hare to vuk hard conipetent' among the aspirants.
io gain iheir trust ard confidence," Sen. Cynthia \tllar, NP National
Romualdez said in a statemenL Director, had earlier expressed
He said the President has given support for Cayetaro.
instructions to delegates in ihe Villar said all things being equal,
Tecent Japan visit to prioritize the NP members in Congress will
investments, creation of jobs, fully support Caletano's bid.
improvernent of human capital Cayetano's p artym at es
investment and building of better believe that as the Pr€sident's
inftastructures. running mate, Cayetano best
Romualdez said in line with the understands the President's