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On the Tight Deliberation Schedule for the 2019 Budget

This is a very quick manifestation regarding the forthcoming budget deliberations. We are in receipt of the tentative plenary schedule and I noticed that as proposed, we have to close the period of interpellation on Friday, Dec. 7, this Friday.

There are 271 items on the agenda, meaning agencies and offices. Even assuming that we work 24 hours a day, Mr. President, 271 divided by 72 (hours), which is the equivalent of three days, we have to tackle 3.76 agencies in one hour.

So translated into minutes – 60 minutes – which is the equivalent of 1 hour, we will have to finish one agency, one office in 15 minutes. This is assuming we won’t have any breakfast break, we don’t have any lunch break, no dinner break, no weewee, no meryenda.

Still it is impossible to accomplish this. So I would like to suggest that we have to rethink our position on the package of the 2019 budget, Mr. President. I think we have to discuss this in caucus before we plunge into this kind of schedule.

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Sponsorship Speech for DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and 47 Foreign Service Officers

The CA Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Sen. Lacson took up the appointments of:
* Teodoro Locsin Jr.: Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
* 2 senior officials promoted to the rank of Chief of Mission Class I
* 4 senior officials promoted to the rank of Chief of Mission Class II
* 7 senior officials promoted to the rank of Career Ministers
* 16 officials promoted to the rank of Foreign Service Officers Class I
* 18 officials promoted to the rank of Foreign Service Officers Class II

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Mr. Chairman, fellow members of the Commission on Appointments, a few minutes ago, this representation as Chairman of your Committee on Foreign Affairs, presided over a public hearing to deliberate on the ad interim appointment of the HON. TEODORO ‘TEDDY BOY’ LOCSIN, JR. as the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Always the maverick, quick-witted, and acerbic — never dull and never ordinary – yun bang nang-iinsulto at nanlalait na masarap pa rin pakinggan at excited ka pang marinig ang mga susunod na sasabihin.

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Ping: Social Media, Online Remittance Inaaral na Isama sa Anti-Terror Law

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Dahil posibleng nagagamit na rin ang mga social media platforms sa paghahasik ng terorismo, pinag-aaralan ng Senado kung mapapabilang na ang mga ito sa mga babantayan ng pamahalaan.

Sa pagdinig ng Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs sa panukalang mas pinatapang na Anti-Terror Law, isiniwalat ni Senador Panfilo Lacson, chairman ng naturang komite, na inaaral nila kung tututukan ang “socmed” accounts na ginagamit para palaganapin ang terorismo.

“We must be clear. The state must take immediate action in the exercise of its police powers to address the threat of terrorism,” paliwanag ni Lacson.

Nguni’t tiniyak ng mambabatas na kung matutuloy ito, hindi nito babanggain ang kalayaan ng pamamahayag sa ilalim ng ating Saligang Batas.

“This is in the context of the state dealing with terrorism, and as such it needs immediate action in the exercise of its police powers to abate terrorism,” ani Lacson.

Related: Lacson Panel Studies Including Abuse of Social Media, Money Transfer in Anti-Terror Act Coverage
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Lacson Panel Studies Including Abuse of Social Media, Money Transfer in Anti-Terror Act Coverage

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Harsh penalties may await not just those who directly commit terrorist acts, but also those who abuse social media and money transfer services to further terrorist ends.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Tuesday they are studying the inputs on the issues, which were raised at a Senate hearing on anti-terrorism legislation.

“We must be clear. The state must take immediate action in the exercise of its police powers to address the threat of terrorism,” said Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that headed the hearing.

But he stressed they will make sure such provisions do not violate the Constitutional rights to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

“This is in the context of the state dealing with terrorism, and as such it needs immediate action in the exercise of its police powers to abate terrorism,” Lacson said.

Related: Ping: Social Media, Online Remittance Inaaral na Isama sa Anti-Terror Law
Continue reading “Lacson Panel Studies Including Abuse of Social Media, Money Transfer in Anti-Terror Act Coverage”