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Rm. N-411, House of Representatives, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
+63 2 931 5497, +63 2 931 5001 local 7370

(By: Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, 30 September 2020)

Mr. Speaker and Distinguished Sponsor: The Constitution grants fiscal autonomy to the Judiciary as well as to the Office of the Ombudsman, the constitutional bodies like the Commission on Audit, Civil Service Commission and Commission on Elections, and also to the Commission on Human Rights, in order to respect and protect their independence from the interference and control of partisan politics, particularly from the Legislature and the Executive.

"My heart tells me not to be a masochist by sharing the harrowing and painful experience of my family during Martial Law. But my mind asserts that I should speak out and disseminate the truth for silence kills. It kills the truth. It kills freedom of expression. It kills the right to dissent. It kills democracy.

Many were forced to keep quiet by the might and terror of Martial Law. But not a few refused to be cowed into submission and be muzzled, notwithstanding the threat to their life, liberty and security.

May I earnestly commend the Albay Provincial Field Office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the initiative and leadership of Provincial Director Leah Balderama-Dy with the overall stewardship of Regional Director Joel Gonzalez for sponsoring the 2020 DOLE-Albay Online Job Fair.

By: Rep. Edcel C. Lagman
03 June 2020

Before I explain my negative vote, I would like to ask the House Leadership to explain why I was not allowed to interpellate the sponsors of House Bill No. 6875 despite the fact that I seasonably registered my intention to interpellate and I was assured that I was number three in the list of interpellators. Many more were allowed to interpellate and Section 54 of Rule 10 of the House Rules was not enforced.

When I complained that I was not being called to interpellate, I was told to call the Majority Leader but the Majority Leader did not answer my repeated calls.