8 senators, 67 House members bow out

Seventy- five lawmakers including eight senators led by the most senior, nonagenarian Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, bade Congress goodbye yesterday as they headed for the end of their terms.

After working in government for 50 years, Enrile bowed out of the service on the last session day yesterday, ending a career that spanned six presidents, from the late dictator up to the son of the heroes of the 1986 people power revolution.

Paraphrasing the words of the late American Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Enrile said old politicians never die.

Enrile, 92, and out on bail on plunder charges, said he

is retiring with his head held high. He ends his final term on June 30.

“Like what MacArthur said, old soldiers never die, they just fade away. I would say today, my last appearance in this chamber, old politicians never die, they will just fade away. My head was bloodied but never bowed. Thank you Mr. President,” he said.

Apart from Enrile, Sens. Pia Cayetano and Sergio Osmeña III also bid their colleagues goodbye during the last session day yesterday before the chamber went on sine die adjournment.

Cayetano, who won as Taguig representative, also stood up to thank her colleagues and staff for assisting her during her term. Osmeña, who failed in his re-election bid, pitched for amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering law but he did not deliver a valedictory speech.

Other senators on their last day were Teofisto Guingona III, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. Guingona was in his room but did not attend the session.

16th Congress ends

Meanwhile, the 16th Congress ended last night as its leaders cited the significant contribution of the legislative branch to the country’s growth.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said the Senate did more than enough in the past three years.

In a speech delivered at the close of session, Drilon said his colleagues could hold their heads up high with what they have achieved.

“How would the nation and our people remember the 16th Congress? How would history judge us? I can say with conviction that this Senate did more than enough,” Drilon said.

“With strong political will, this Senate cleared the hurdle of passing difficult but landmark measures that previously languished in the legislative mill for decades. Thus, we need not be afraid to face the verdict of our people and history. We have fared well.”

Drilon pointed out that the Senate was able to work on the approval of several laws aimed at strengthening the economy, promoting social justice and transforming the country into one of the strongest and fastest growing economies in the world.

Among the many bills approved by the Senate is the GOCC (governmentowned and controlled corporations) Governance Act, which Drilon said “made state- owned enterprises instruments of national progress, instead of being milking cows.”

“Since 2013, or for the last three years, the GOCCs remitted a total of over P100 billion in dividends to the national coffers,” Drilon said.

The other economic bills approved by the Senate were the Philippine Competition Act, the amendment of the Cabotage Law, the full entry of foreign banks in the country, the amendment of the foreign investment negative list and the Tax Incentives Monitoring and Transparency Act.

A number of laws aimed at introducing structural changes in government agencies were also passed including the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the creation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the amendments to the charter of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.

Remarkable legacy

On the other hand, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. thanked his “band of brothers and sisters” in Congress – 67 of them ending their terms – who supported the passage of various landmark and socioeconomic measures.

“Inspired by significant growth of our economy, we passed laws which enhanced our competitiveness as an investment destination,” Belmonte said.

“I am confident that history will show that we have conducted ourselves creditably. The 16th Congress will leave behind a remarkable legacy,” he said.

Belmonte also pointed out that in the last six years, Congress passed the annual budget on time.

“We raised the budget for social services to provide more direct assistance to the impoverished sector,” he said.

For education, Congress also passed reform measures such as the K-12 program, the Ladderized Education Program, the Open Distance Act and the Iskolar ng Bayan Act.

He said Congress also enacted the mandatory coverage of senior citizens in the Philippine Health Insurance program, and exempting persons with disabilities from the value-added tax.

The adjournment proceedings were briefly disrupted by the ejection of former Northern Samar representative Harlin Abayon from the floor by the sergeantat-arms.

Abayon was about to take the floor and deliver a speech but it was pointed out that he lost the electoral protest to his rival, who took over his post last March.

He, however, said he was able to obtain a stay from the Supreme Court.

There was also a debate between Senior Deputy Minority Leader Neri Colmenares and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II over the move of President Aquino to veto the P2,000 increase in pension for Social Security System retirees.

Colmenares wanted the House to override the veto but Gonzales said the chamber cannot conduct such kind of legislative work as the Senate has already adjourned session. –