A sample letter dated November 24, 2011, obtained by the INQUIRER showing the request of an incumbent Senator for P100,000 funding from the office of Senator Franklin Drilon, then chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. Six senators made the…
The P18,000 to be given to families living near Metro Manila waterways is not meant to boost Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II’s chances of winning the presidency in 2016, a Palace spokesperson said Tuesday. At a news briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the relocation of informal settlers living near waterways has been planned even before Roxas’ stint at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). She added that it was the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo who began planning moving the informal settlers away from the waterways. “Everybody understands na hindi naman po agaran na makakapagtayo ng medium-rise structure. It took some time to plan and, also, natagalan din po tayo sa pagpili ‘nung mga communities,” Valte said. The President’s spokesperson also said that the DILG is not the only agency in charge of the plan to give P18,000 to enable families near waterways to find temporary housing. She said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be the one to supervise the disbursement of this amount. Valte further said that Vice President Jejomar Binay, who also has plans to seek the presidency in 2016, will also participate in the relocation project, being the head of the Housing & Urban Development Coordinating Council. Senator Franklin Drilon, the Liberal Party (LP)’s vice chairperson, said early this year that Roxas will be the ruling party’s standard-bearer in 2016. Roxas was Aquino’s running mate during the 2010 national elections, but lost the vice-presidency to Binay. — BM, Read More …
Senator Loren Legarda said Wednesday that she has declined an offer from Senator Franklin Drilon, who is being eyed as Senate president in the 16th Congress, to be the next majority floor leader. “Napag-usapan namin at sinabi ko na hindi ako interesado. Hindi dahil sa ayaw ko na magtrabaho, pero dahil nanggaling na ako riyan,” Legarda told reporters. However, she added, she might consider the offer to become the Senate president pro tempore next Congress. “Kung andiyan na at wala namang ibang interesado at kung ako ay pipilitin, baka pag-isipan,” she said. Legarda was majority floor leader from 2002 to 2004, when Drilon was Senate president. She won a fresh Senate term during the 2013 midterm polls under the administration slate, which was managed by Drilon. The senator likewise said she would rather “focus on committee work” rather that handle a top Senate post during her third term. “Nanggaling na ako riyan. Give others a chance. Sabi ko nga, ipaubaya na sa iba,” she said. — BM, GMA News
By Tetch Torres-Tupas INQUIRER.net 3:30 pm | Monday, March 4th, 2013 President Benigno S. Aquino III. Malacañang Photo Bureau MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino is on top of the situation with regards to the conflict in Sabah, Senator Franklin Drilon, Team PNoy campaign manager, said Monday. At the same time Drilon appealed to the people to stop inserting politics in the Sabah issue. “Campaign rhetoric should take a backseat so that we can properly address the welfare of the 800,000 Filipinos living in Sabah. Already 300 of our countrymen have been deported. We are making this appeal in behalf of our compatriots who are living and earning their living in Malaysia,” Drilon said at a press conference. Aquino has been criticized for being in Pampanga campaigning with Team PNoy senatorial candidates while the exchange of firefight was ongoing in Lahad Datu, Sabah. “Let me tell you from personal knowledge that while the President had to fulfill that commitment of the speaking engagement with the local leaders, he had to leave the stage to go back to the room and continue monitor the situation,” Drilon said. “He continues to govern, he’s on top of the situation and he has a schedule to follow. However, we will repeat, the welfare of 800,000 Filipinos which are caught in this very delicate situation in Sabah will be more than prime interest,” he added. “Let us not muddle an already complicated situation,” Drilon said.
