(Statement of Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, President of the Liberal Party, on Ninoy Aquino’s 40th Death Anniversary on 21 August 2023)
Filipinos manifest their love of country in different ways like doing their civic duty, crusading for meaningful reforms, resisting oppression and repression, campaigning for a change in abusive and derelict national leadership, and even sacrificing their life for the motherland.
Yesterday, I inquired from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Sec. Enrique Manalo whether the DFA has the data on the magnitude of the sovereign territorial properties of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea illegally occupied and developed by China in contumacious defiance of the arbitral decision in favor of the Philippines against the spurious claims of China.
Pending a thorough perusal of the President’s 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) which was submitted this morning to the House of Representatives, it is opportune to remind Congressmembers that while the President proposes the national budget, it is the Congress, more particularly the House of Representatives, which disposes and approves the national budget through the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
The Supreme Court decision declaring unconstitutional Republic Act No. 11935, which again postponed the barangay and SK elections (BSKE), sustains my position and those of a few other legislators that the challenged statute violates the Constitution.
As we celebrate the 125th Independence Day anniversary of the Philippines, we must zealously guard against the intrusions on the country's sovereignty, like:
