By Sammy F. Martin
MANILA, Aug. 26 (PNA) — Two former rebel soldiers-turned-partylist lawmakers proposed on Wednesday the enactment of the Congressional Reform Bill in the incoming 17th Congress to institutionalize punishment against absentee lawmakers, study the relevance of various committees, and possible reward system for performing members, and among others.
In a press conference, Magdalo Party-list Reps. Francisco Ashley Acedillo and Gary Alejano, both members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), joined calls to seriously address truancy among lawmakers to truly reform Congress and regain people’s trust.
“Hindi na pupuwedeng idahilan na abala kami sa distrito. Nakakahiya po talaga na binabayaran tayo at kumukuha ng pondo tapos hindi papasok; unfair rin sa mga tao at mga kasamahan nating pumapasok sa sesyon,” said Acedillo.
“To punish lawmakers is just a knee-jerk reaction. Dapat magpasa tayo ng batas to reform the institution like what the US (United States) Congress did. This is more than punishment,” said Acedillo, adding that the present 16th Congress has no adequate time to pass the measure.
“The bill will also review the number of standing and special committees. Nararapat ba na ganyan karami or i-collapse na ang iba?” Acedillo asked.
Alejano said the proposed law should also contain reward system where performing lawmakers will get more funds to support their office while absentee lawmakers will be punished with meager budget.
“Iyung walang output, dapat mababa ang makukuhang financial support sa kanilang opisina, at bigyan ng reward ang mga nagta-trabaho,” Alejano explained.
Earlier, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., vice president of the 30-strong National Unity Party (NUP) in the House of Representatives, appealed to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to draft and approve the rules against absenteeism aimed at reprimanding, suspending, and expelling lawmakers who do not attend congressional sessions.
At the same time, Barzaga said the proposed rules should also address whether to exempt Sarangani Rep. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao from being absent from legislative sessions due to his boxing career.
Barzaga made the reactions after the House leadership mustered a quorum with 204 lawmakers during Monday’s session and 190 Tuesday, but both session days were cut short after some lawmakers left the plenary when another roll call was made, leaving the discussions on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) hanging.
He reminded lawmakers that their duties include: “enacting laws, attending congressional hearings, and attending committee hearings in-aid-of legislation.”
The Cavite lawmaker backed the suggestion to bring the truancy issue before the House Committee on Ethics, but opposed to padlock the session hall to prevent lawmakers from leaving.
Earlier, Belmonte proposed a “reward system” by publishing the names of lawmakers who religiously attend congressional sessions instead of “shame campaign” that will make public the names of absentee-lawmakers. (PNA)