PRESS STATEMENT OF SENATOR M.A. MADRIGAL

It is unfortunate that instead of responding to the questions that I have raised on the unconstitutional composition of the Commission of Appointments, Senate President Manuel Villar has chosen the coward's option which is to convene the plenary session the day before congress adjourns to preclude me and Senator Lacson from again invoking section 20 of the rules. Only a trapo would resort to such backroom machinations.

I have written Senate President Villar three (3) times and yet until now, I have yet to receive any formal reply from him on this matter.

What is Senator Villar afraid of? Why have they not responded to the questions I have raised on the unconstitutional composition of the present of the Commission? Is this the kind of leadership that we are now offering to the Filipino people?

The Commission on Appointments has turned into a mafia of lobbyists, influence peddlers and trapos. As an elected member of the legislature, I believe that it is my primordial duty to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the land as well as to ensure that these are faithfully observed. To do less would be to short change the Filipino people.

I will not be intimidated nor shall I allow such kind of maneuverings to happen. The Commission on Appointments is a constitutional body. It is not the harem of lobbyists, influence peddlers and corrupt politicians.

The present membership of the Commission on Appointments has to be reorganized pursuant to the strict requirement of Section 18, Article VI of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in the case of Guingona vs. Gonzales (G.R. No. 106971, Oct. 20, 1992).