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Angara 'open' to giving Senate finance panel to Imee but raises need to respect 'equity of the incumbent'
By HANA BORDEY,GMA NewsSenator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Wednesday said he is “open” to giving the chairmanship of the Senate finance committee to Senator Imee Marcos but he raised the need for the 19th Congress to follow the principle of “equity of the incumbent.”
The lawmaker made the remark after reports that Marcos, sister of presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is gunning for the chairmanship of the finance committee, which Angara currently heads.
“Sabi ko open naman ako dahil hindi naman, we don’t have an entitlement, wala naman tayong Torrens title sa mga committees natin. But at the end of the day, of course, it has to be acceptable to all of our members. It is not a one-on-one arrangement kumbaga,” Angara said at the virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay on Wednesday.
(I am open to that idea because we don't have entitlement over our chairmanships. We don't have Torrens title over our committees. But at the end of the day, of course, it has to be acceptable to all of our members. It is not a one-on-one arrangement, so to speak.)
“It’s something na puwedeng pag-usapan. But at the end of the day it must be agreed upon by all the members of the majority,” he explained.
(It's something that we could discuss. But at the end of the day, it must be agreed upon by all the members of the majority.)
Angara said he will be “happy to continue” serving as the chair of the finance committee if the 19th Congress will “respect the equity of the incumbent.”
“I believe in that (equity of the incumbent) because nare-respeto din ang seniority e. I’ve been nine years in the chamber. Tapos 'yun, it’s a way of instilling order also pagka nirerespeto ‘yon. Kasi 'pag ni-rumble mo ang lahat, marami ang sasama ang loob. ‘Yung chairmen ng existing committees sasabihin bakit dahil nagpalit lang ng pinuno parang hindi nirespeto 'yung trinabaho natin nu’ng mga nakaraang mga taon,” he noted.
(I believe in that because the seniority among members of the Senate will be respected. I've been in the chamber for nine years. It's a way of instilling order if that principle is being respected. Some committee chairmen might complain if the new leadership will rumble the assignments in the committees. They will ask why there is a change in the chairmanship and they might raise the concern that their work throughout the years does not seem to have been honored.)
GMA News Online has contacted the office of Senator Imee for comment but has yet to receive a reply.
The lawmaker also emphasized that the principle of equity of the incumbent is traditionally observed in the House of Representatives, with some committees even chaired by certain political parties.
“It's evolved to such an extent na hindi lang sa tao. Minsan sa partido pa. So in that sense, parang ginagaya natin ‘yung sa ibang bansa. Sa US ‘di ba minsan… that’s seen as a committee belonging to this party. So may ganong aspeto rin ‘yon,” he said.
(It's evolved to such an extent that [the equity of the incumbent] is applied not just to people but even to parties. So in that sense, it is like we are following what is being practiced in other countries. In the US, for instance, a committee is seen as belonging to this party. So there is that aspect.)
“Pero sa Senate it is a tradition that has been observed over many Congresses. So, I don’t know if the incoming Senate president will observe it. I hope so. I think si Senator Migz [Zubiri] said he will, as much as possible, adhere,” he said.
(In the Senate, it is a tradition that has been observed over many Congresses. So I don't know if the incoming Senate president will observe it. I hope so. I think Senator Migz said he will, as much as possible, adhere.)
Zubiri is one of the senators who is reportedly vying for the Senate presidency
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The Senate finance committee handles all matters relating to funds for the expenditures of the National Government and for the payment of public indebtedness; auditing of accounts and expenditures of the National Government; claims against the government; intergovernmental revenue sharing; and, in general, all matters relating to public expenditures, according to Rule X, Section 13 (4) of the Rules of the Senate.
Senate presidency
Angara also disclosed that there were initial talks wherein Marcos and presumptive senator Loren Legarda have expressed interest in the position of Senate president pro tempore, the second highest position in the upper chamber.
Meanwhile, Angara said re-elected Senator Joel Villanueva might express interest in the position of Senate majority leader, considering that he is one of the senior members of the Senate in the 19th Congress and he had served as the assistant majority leader in the 18th Congress.
TRAIN Law, MUP pensions
On the other hand, Angara said he would prioritize amending the provisions of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and introducing reforms in the pension system of military and uniformed personnel (MUP) in the 19th Congress.
The lawmaker raised the need to include a “safeguard” in the TRAIN Law which will protect consumers if there are increases in the prices of fuel and petroleum products.
“Dapat mayroong safeguard pa rin ‘yon kapag maybe umabot sa—we have to set a number. Once it reaches that, e talagang mabigat sa bulsa. Kailangan siguro ‘yung any increase has to be suspended siguro in the meantime or balik muna sa dati [na rate],” Angara said, citing the recent fuel hikes due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
(There should be a safeguard if the fuel price reaches a certain amount. We have to set a number. Once it reaches that, it would really hurt our pockets. The increase in excise taxes should then be suspended in the meantime or we can impose the previous rate.)
For MUP pensions, Angara said the current situation is already “unsustainable,” noting that it is one of few pension systems that does not impose contribution to its beneficiaries.
“In the case of the military pensions, walang contribution ‘yon so meaning it is being funded by the taxpayers' money purely. Dati ganito kalaki ang salaries, ganito kalaki rin ang pension. Ngayon ‘yung salaries ganito na lang [‘yung amount] pero ‘yung pension lumolobo nang husto. So the situation is unsustainable actually,” Angara said.
(In the case of the military pensions, there are no contributions, meaning, it is being funded by the taxpayers' money purely. Salaries were this much before and this is how much the pension is. Now, salaries are only this much and yet the pension is still this big.)
To be fair to the men in uniform who are currently serving the country, Angara said reforms in the pension system will be applied prospectively.
Senators Panfilo Lacson and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon have been pushing for the MUP pension system reforms in the 18th Congress, highlighting the need to make it sustainable in the long run. —KG, GMA News