Press Release
January 15, 2009

Trillanes ranked second in Senate report
Files 155 bills from jail

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV ranked second in number of bills filed in 2008, according to a report by the Bills and Index Division of the Senate.

Trillanes, who was elected in 2007, authored 155 bills while incarcerated at the Camp Crame Custodial Center for rebellion charges.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago led the list with 223 bills. Among those cited were Senators Manuel Villar Jr. with 132, Francis Escudero, 101, and Loren Legarda, 54.

Trillanes' bills include the Philippines Baselines bill and Republic Act 9502, which prescribes special measures to lower the price of medicines.

The first-term senator has also filed bills to increase penalties against violations by contractors and subcontractors in the government's public works projects, the minimum salary grade of public school teachers, and combat duty pay of all ground forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He sought poverty alleviation measures and governance reforms in other legislation. Trillanes also chaired the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization with the assistance of Senators Legarda and Panfilo Lacson, who presided over hearings in his absence.

According to Trillanes, legislation remains the primary duty of members of Congress to the people.

"It is our job not just to craft many but meaningful bills that address the needs and interests of each sector," he said.

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