Senate to multitask on legislation and probes

Senate President Manny Villar assured the public that the Upper Chamber will stick to its "multi-tasking skills" in undertaking simultaneous probes on government irregularities and in passing important bills.

"The present Senate is like an engine with 23 pistons working full blast at the same time, so the fear that it will sacrifice legislation for investigation has no basis," he said.

"We can legislate, investigate, and ratify treaties at the same time," Villar, who is also president of the Nacionalista Party, said.

"We are moving on with JPEPA and in the case of the 2008 national budget, finance committee chairman Senator (Juan Ponce) Enrile will start hearings next week simultaneously with the House," Villar said.

Villar said senators agreed to focus on 26 bills in a caucus held last Aug. 28.

As to the measures that Malacanang wants approved soon, Villar said the "committee-level spade work" has started.

Among these are the Cheaper Medicines Act, the new UP Charter, the expansion of agricultural assistance to farmers and scholarships to their children under the ACEF bill, the human rights indemnity bill, the one fixing the term of the AFP chief of staff, and the Lemon Law, Villar said.

"So meron tayong 'Hello, Garci' meron din tayong 'Hello, higher tax exemption," he said, referring to various bills filed reducing the personal income tax rate and the exemption of minimum-wage earners from the payment of income tax.

Villar said the resuscitation of the 'Hello, Garci probe and the planned probe into the ZTE broadband deal "will not delay or derail our timetable in passing these bills."

"Huwag tayong maniwala sa mga paratang na 'yang mga imbestigasyon lang na 'yan ang aatupagin ng Senado. Lahat ay aasikasuhin natin," he said.

Villar said the "oversight function is inherent in the legislature. I'd rather have one that exercises it responsibly than one that shirks from it.

Villar made the statement following his signing of a subpoena testificandum directing former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to appear before the Senate on Sept. 7 when the Senate begins its inquiry on wiretapping.