Latest news with #JVEjercito
GMA Network
12-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Senate OKs priority bills before adjourning sine die
Several legislative priorities of the Marcos administration were ratified by the Senate before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die on Wednesday night. These included the bicameral conference committee reports on the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act and the Accelerated and Reformed Right-of-Way (ARROW) Act, which were both listed as 'top priority' measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC). The ratified bicam report on the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act came from Senate Bill No. 2826 and House Bill No. 8937. According to Senator JV Ejercito, the reconciled version allows a five percent royalty based on gross output on mines operating within mineral reservation and a 5-tier royalty rate ranging from one percent to five percent based on margin from metallic mining operations for those outside mineral reservations. With the reforms in large-scale mining, the senator believes the government would benefit from an additional P6 billion worth of revenues. Senator Risa Hontiveros, however, opposed the measure, saying that it rejected amendments on increasing royalties for indigenous communities affected by mining, and imposing an export tax to fund the National Industrialization Program. Meanwhile, the ARROW Act was ratified by the upper chamber through the bicam report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 2821 and House Bill No. 6571. Senator Mark Villar, sponsor of the bill in the Senate, said that the measure is important in addressing the right-of-way issues that delay government infrastructure projects. 'Many projects have failed to meet their target completion dates due to unresolved right-of-way delays. Given these challenges, we welcome the amendment of the existing right-of-way law. The ARROW Act introduces key reforms to make the law more responsive to the evolving infrastructure landscape,' Villar said. The Senate also ratified the bicam report seeking to extend the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to four years. The report also postpones the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections from December 2025 to the first Monday of November 2026 Also ratified by the Senate on Wednesday night were bicam reports on the following: Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act (Senate Bill No. 2982 and House Bill No. 11358); An Act amending Sections 134 and 168 of Republic Act No. 8424, otherwise known as the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended (Senate Committee Report No. 581 and House Bill No. 10535); Philippine Nuclear Energy Safety Act (Senate Bill No. 2899 and House Bill No. 9293); and Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act (Senate Bill No. 3000 and House Bill No. 10270) — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
05-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
JV Ejercito says Sara Duterte impeachment trial should proceed
Senator-elect JV Ejercito talks to media before attending the briefing for neophyte and returning senators of the 19th Congress on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at the Senate. Voltaire Domingo/Senate PRIB Senator JV Ejercito maintained Thursday that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should push through as the Senate is duty-bound to conduct the proceedings despite other lawmakers' efforts to block it. Ejercito, however, clarified that even if he is pushing for the impeachment trial to start, it does not necessarily mean that he wants a conviction for Duterte. He said the proceedings would give the Vice President a chance to clear her name. "Whether I am for it or not for it is irrelevant. The Senate is duty-bound to convene the impeachment court, according to our Constitution. Kumbaga ano namin 'yan, responsibilidad namin 'yan (That is our responsibility)," he said. "Itutuloy naman 'tong impeachment eh, whether we like it or not. As I've mentioned, we are duty-bound. Sana matapos agad, so whatever the decision is, whatever the verdict is, I hope we can go back to our normalcy as soon as possible," he added. (This impeachment will continue, whether we like it or not. As I've mentioned, we are duty-bound. But I hope it ends soon, so whatever the decision is, whatever the verdict is, I hope we can go back to our normalcy as soon as possible.) He also said it would be up to the 20th Congress to decide if the impeachment trial would push through, stressing that the plenary will always be supreme. Imee wants dismissal Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos expressed belief that the impeachment case should be dismissed, citing concerns on the timing and validity of the transmission of the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives to the Senate. "Dapat i-dismiss na ito kaagad dahil unang-una, hindi na talaga kaya matapos bago 'yung 19th Congress, may sariling rules ang Senado. Pero ang totoo, I have very serious concerns about the validity of the impeachment complaint arriving here in the Senate," said Marcos, the elder sister of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (This should be dismissed immediately because first of all, it really can't be finished before the 19th Congress ends as the Senate has its own rules. But the truth is, I have very serious concerns about the validity of the impeachment complaint arriving here in the Senate.) Marcos alleged that the House of Representatives "withheld" the complaints against the Vice President as these were filed in December 2024. However, she said the lower chamber only acted on it in February 2025. "Kung winithhold nila, aba'y sila pala ang nagpatagal nitong lahat (If they withheld the complaints, then they are the reason for the delay). Despite the lapse of two months, no action was taken to transmit to the Senate or refer any of the first three verified complaints," she said. "Para sa akin, kinakailangan alamin kung tama rin ang ginawa ng Kongreso. Sinasabi nila dinelay ng Senado. Ang akin, teka muna, sino ba talaga ang nag-delay niyan at ngayon violative na of the one-year ban on filing impeachment?" she added. (For me, it's important to know if Congress did the right thing. They are saying the Senate delayed the process. But wait, who was the one who delayed their action and now it is violative of the one-year ban on the filing of impeachment complaints?) Admin senators, too? Marcos also believes that efforts to derail Duterte's impeachment case do not only come from the Vice President's allies in the Senate, but even those allied with the administration. "Tuwing may panukala, lahat talaga tulong-tulong. Ganu'n talaga 'yun at walang kinalaman sa partido, sa Duterte 5, sa kung sinu-sino. Talagang lahat ay interesado," she said. (Whenever there are proposals, everyone really helps one another. That's just the way it is and it has nothing to do with any party, with the Duterte 5, or anyone else. Everyone is really interested.) "Mismo ang admin, sa palagay ko, interesado na mawalang bisa na 'yan kasi kinakabahan din na matalo," she continued. (I think even those allied with the administration are interested in dropping the case because they're afraid of losing.) Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa admitted Wednesday that he was behind the draft Senate resolution seeking to drop Duterte's impeachment trial. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
