Cayetano fumes at Zubiri after assuming Senate would prioritize tackling bill on vape products over 2022 budget

Senator Pia Cayetano on Tuesday fumed at Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri after she wrongly assumed that the Senate would prioritize discussions on a bill on vape products over the sponsorship of the 2022 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

During the Senate plenary session, Zubiri moved to consider Senate Bill 2239 or the bill seeking to regulate the importation, sale, and use of vapor products and heated tobacco products.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, the sponsor of the bill, moved to close the interpolations on SB 2239, assuming that Cayetano would no longer ask him questions as they already had informal discussions on the possible amendments to the measure.

In the process of crafting a law, amendments to a bill can only be introduced after the Senate closed the period of interpellations.

After Recto’s motion, Cayetano approached Zubiri to raise her objection to the Senate president pro tempore’s motion.

Cayetano said she thought the Senate would prioritize the sponsorship of the 2022 GAB which contains the P5-trillion national budget.

“I think my colleague saw me in the corner preparing my speech for the sponsorship of the budget. It is not difficult to understand that we need to prioritize the budget,” Cayetano said.

She then asked why the Senate is closing the period of interpolations when she has not debated yet with Recto regarding the contentious issues of SB 2239, adding that their exchange on the matter could provide more information to their colleagues who will either agree or disagree with the amendments that would be introduced later on.

“I can just make a statement, but without that [interpolation], I cannot proceed without he proposals because it is my law the Sin Tax Law that this honorable body passed and [we will talk about the] key provisions in the Sin Tax Law,” she said.

Her major concerns about the bill is the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration, the age of use and access to vape products, as well as the number of flavors that will be allowed by the government.

“Let’s take due time and discuss this…Don’t rush this representation when there are valid issues to be settled,” she said.

“Is that the wish of the body that I set aside the time that I had meant for the budget for this, for a tobacco bill? If that is your wish, I will comply. I have always been known to be a team player in the Senate. I have never delayed a bill. Never. I have prepared diligently for every interpolation that I have signed up for. So if this is a priority over the budget then tell me and lets’ tell the Filipino people na inuuna natin ang tobacco bill kesa ang budget (we are prioritizing a tobacco bill than a budget). That is my humble submission,” an emotional Cayetano said.

For his part, Zubiri said the agenda is always transparent and all the sponsorship of bills are placed at the latter part of the Senate’s schedule for Tuesday.

“Nothing is being railroaded here. As a matter of fact, we can complain that this bill is being  stopped because everything else prior to the break, we have closed the period of interpolation,” Zubiri pointed out that even the interpolation on more “controversial” measures, such as the bill on the creation of the Department of OFWs and the amendments to the Public Services Act, have already been closed by the chamber except for SB 2239.

“If they [Cayetano and Recto] are discussing the proposed amendments, why don’t we close the period of interpolations and already direct to the period of amendments where they can discuss thoroughly and we can vote on it?” Zubiri asked, noting the backdoor discussions of the two senators on the possible amendments to the bill.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, at this point, emphasized that the chamber is not inclined to make the amendments on Tuesday.

This was affirmed by Zubiri, saying they plan to discuss the amendments to SB 2239 after the passage of the 2022 GAB.

“With all due respect to the lady from Taguig, it is in the calendar, right before the sponsorship of the budget after we tackle this measure and if it was disposed properly, which whatever the body would want it to be disposed, we will now proceed with the budget. So hindi po natin fina-fast-track ‘to [we are not fast-tracking this] as a matter of fact, this bill has been languishing already for four months, three or four months on the floor. So with due respect, I’m not fighting in favor of this bill, I’m just fighting for every bill that is on my calendar as a priority,” he explained.

While admitting that she did not see the agenda for Senate’s Tuesday session, Cayetano insisted on the need for more time to debate on the bill, noting that she just interpolated once on the proposed measure.

“I apologize, I did not see that, but you make it appear as if that I am delaying it,” she said.

“This is my bill that this collegial body passed, siguro naman [maybe] you can give me more than one session to interpolate,” Cayetano argued.

Cayetano said she takes offense that Zubiri made it appear that she is delaying the passage of SB 2239.

“Nag-delay ba ako ever [Did I cause delay ever]? I take offense that you make it appear that I’m hogging, languishing performance? Come on, many of you have defended your bills for a year, for 18 months, 24 months, and a tobacco bill is pending for four months and you accuse me of delaying and I have interpolated once and you are amending a major bill of this Congress. ‘Wag naman. Maayos naman ako kausap [Don't. You can easily discuss things with me],” she said.

Cayetano maintained that she needs to interpolate in hopes that her colleagues will listen and support her position not to amend and reverse the provisions in the Sin Tax Law.

“I have never filibustered, I have never sought to delay, and I am insulted that anyone insinuated that of me,” she said.

Zubiri apologized to Cayetano for what he pointed out as response to her concern, but he clarified that her anger should not be directed towards him as the motion to close the period of interpolations was not yet acted upon.

“I don’t know why the hell and brimstones are falling on to me today,” he said.

“We’re not railroading everything here. It's just a request of the chairperson and I have not made an action on that motion yet. So I think the anger of the lady senator from Taguig is still out of place at this time with due respect,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon then suggested to just finish the interpolations after the approval of the budget in the Senate on November 22.

At the end of he discussion, the senators agreed and decided to suspend the deliberations of SB 2239.  -- BAP, GMA News