Press Release
September 17, 2008

Kiko calls for ceasefire in the Senate; asks committees to proceed with a fair, balanced investigation
'Let's get down to business'

Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today called for ceasefire at the Senate amid heated debates over the C-5 double-entry case brought on by the privilege speech of Senator Panfilo Lacson last Monday.

"Panahon na para itigil ang bangayan. Tutal nakapaglabas na naman ng kanya-kanyang mga hinaing ang lahat ng panig. May referral na rin at nagkakasundo naman ang lahat ng Senador na kinakailangan ngang imbistegahan na ang akusasyon ni Sen. Lacson. Tigilan na ang pagtatalo sa harap ng camera. Let's start the investigation so we can get down to business. There are more pressing national issues such as the Mindanao conflict, persistent questions on the integrity of the judiciary, the US economic crisis threatening our own financial stability and the problematic rollback of oil prices by the Big 3 oil companies," Kiko stressed.

Sparking the blistering exchanges at the Senate was Senator Lacson's revelation that the P200 million budget insertion for the C-5 extension project was a duplication of fund allocation. Though Senators argued over the veracity of charges, all parties agreed that an investigation on the matter is necessary.

"Pabor naman sa lahat na matapos na natin ang usaping ito. Anyway, everyone has expressed their thoughts on the matter. Logically, the next step is for there to be an impartial, transparent and unpartisan probe. Hindi natin minamaliit ang isyu ng 'double insertion' pero sana naman ay hindi lang dito nakatutok ang atensyon ng lahat. Huwag naman nating ituon ang panahon ng Senado sa iisang isyu habang ang dami pang dapat asikasuhin na kasing-importante kung 'di man mas importante pang mga isyu," Kiko concluded.

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