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THE SENATE OF THE PEOPLE Privilege Speech of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, February 7, 2007  Posted: August 6th, 2008 @ 2:23am MR. PRESIDENT, DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES OF THIS AUGUST CHAMBER: TODAY, AS WE ARE ABOUT TO CONCLUDE THE THIRD AND FINAL REGULAR SESSION OF THE 13th CONGRESS, I RISE AGAIN TO PAY TRIBUTE AND EXPRESS MY DEEP APPRECIATION AND ADMIRATION TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THIS AUGUST BODY. MR. PRESIDENT, ON MANY OCCASIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS PAST YEAR, THIS REPRESENTATION HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY APPROACHED BY WELL-MEANING CONSTITUENTS WHO UNEQUIVOCALLY EXPRESSED THEIR SATISFACTION AND APPROVAL OF THE WORK AND PERFORMANCE OF THIS CHAMBER. THESE ARE RIGHTEOUS AND LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS, MR. PRESIDENT, NOT ONLY FROM METRO MANILA, BUT FROM OUR PROVINCES AND REGIONS. I HAD MET THEM DURING MY VISITS FOR CONSULTATIONS OR TO HONOR SPEAKING INVITATIONS FROM VARIOUS CIVIC, SOCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS. THESE ARE CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED DISMAY AND DISAPPOINTMENT OVER MANY ISSUES UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. MANY OF THESE REMAIN UNANSWERED TODAY EVEN IF BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS EXERTED MUCH EFFORT TO INVESTIGATE THEM AND UNCOVER THE TRUTH IN THE FACE OF SINISTER EFFORTS OF SYSTEMATIC WHITE-WASH AND ORCHESTRATED COVER-UPS. THEY RANGE, MR. PRESIDENT, FROM THE INVESTIGATION OF SUCH ISSUES AS THE ELECTION FRAUD OF 2004 AND THE GARCI SCANDAL, THE JUETENG PAYOLAS, THE FERTILIZER SCAM, THE DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL BOULEVARD ANOMALY, THE JOSE PIDAL ACCOUNTS, THE VENABLE CONTRACT, THE SUMMARY DISMISSAL OR REMOVAL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND MANY MORE, WHICH TODAY REMAIN UNRESOLVED. AND THE SCANDALS CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE. THEY ALSO INCLUDE DISTURBING ISSUES OF THE DECLARATION OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, THE STATE OF REBELLION, AND THE REFUSAL OF CABINET MEMBERS TO APPEAR BEFORE CONGRSSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS, THE WARRANTLESS ARRESTS, THE EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS. BUT IN ALL THESE, THIS CHAMBER, MR. PRESIDENT, GAINED THE ADMIRATION OF MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ON OUR UNWAVERING CONVICTION AGAINST THE INDECENT AND REPULSIVE INITIATIVE TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION POSTHASTE UNDER A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. BECAUSE THIS SENATE SAID NO, MR. PRESIDENT, THE CHA-CHA RAILROAD TRAIN HAS NOW BEEN DERAILED, EVEN IF ONLY FOR THE TIME BEING. DURING THOSE SHINING MOMENTS IN THIS CHAMBER, DURING THOSE MOMENTS OF CONVICTION, DURING THAT CELEBRATION OF DIGNITY AND HONOR, THIS CHAMBER SET ASIDE PARTY LOYALTIES AND AFFILIATIONS. WE VOLUNTARILY AND WILLINGLY CROSSED PARTY LINES AND ALLIANCES BECAUSE THERE IS A HIGHER ORDER OF VALUES THAT WE COLLECTIVELY BELIEVED IN. FOR ME, AND I HOPE, FOR OUR PEOPLE TOO, IT WAS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE SUPREME ACT OF STATESMANSHIP. SA MGA OKASYON IYON, WALANG ADMINISTRATION; WALANG OPPOSITION, LAHAT AY NAGKA-ISA PARA IPAGLABAN AT IPAGTANGGOL ANG SALIGANG-BATAS, ANG KATOTOHANAN, ANG KATARUNGAN, AT HIGIT SA LAHAT, ANG INTERES, KAPAKANAN AT KINABUKASAN NG LIPUNANG PILIPINO. MR. PRESIDENT, AS WE CLOSE THE 13TH CONGRESS ALLOW ME TO PAY HOMAGE TO A CHAMBER AND ITS MEMBERS WHO, IN MANY CRITICAL AND DIFFICULT OCCASIONS, STOOD ITS GROUND IN THE FACE OF THREATS AND INTIMIDATION, IN THE FACE OF THE LURE OF GREATER POWER AND INFLUENCE, AND THE CORRUPTED ATTRACTION OF OTHER BLANDISHMENTS OFFERED BY AN ANOMALOUS, CRUEL REGIME. IF EVER WE MET THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR PEOPLE, IT IS BECAUSE WE DID NOT JUST WORK HARD FOR IT, BUT BECAUSE WE UPHELD AND DEFENDED THE MAJESTY AND SANCTITY OF OUR CONVICTIONS THAT ARE CONSISTENT AND COMPATIBLE WITH THE SENTIMENTS OF THE REAL AND GENUINE SOURCE OF POLITICAL POWER, OUR PEOPLE. WITH THE CHAMBER’S KIND INDULGENCE I PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR COLLEAGUES WHO NOW BOW OUT, TEMPORARILY I HOPE, FROM THIS CHAMBER, BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO HONOR THE TERM LIMITS IMPOSED BY THE CONSTITUTION. I PAY TRIBUTE TO SENATOR FRANKLIN M. DRILON, WHO LED THIS CHAMBER WHEN I BECAME A SENATOR. FROM SENATOR DRILON, I HAVE COME TO HAVE A BETTER APPRECIATION OF LEADERSHIP AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES ATTACHED TO IT. IT WAS ALSO UNDER HIS ABLE LEADERSHIP AND EXPERT ADVICE THAT I WAS ABLE TO PRINCIPALLY AUTHOR AND SPONSOR MY FIRST LAW TO BE PASSED, REPUBLIC ACT 9347 OR THE LAW STRENGTHENING AND RATIONALIZING THE STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION. SEN. DRILON HAS CHOSEN TO SET ASIDE ALLIANCES AND ALLEGIANCES IN FAVOR OF HIGHER ORDER OF VALUES. HE HAS ALSO GIVEN ME A STIRRING LESSON IN STATESMANSHIP WHEN, AMONG OTHERS, HE CHOSE TO ABIDE BY A GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT LAST YEAR. I AM CERTAIN THAT HE DOES NOT END HIS RICH AND STERLING CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE HERE. I AM CONVINCED THAT HE HAS JUST STARTED. I ALSO PAY TRIBUTE, MR. PRESIDENT, TO SEN. JUAN FLAVIER, WHO HAS TAUGHT ME SO MUCH, AND FROM WHOM THERE IS STILL MUCH TO LEARN FROM. I REMEMBER HIM PROVIDING COMIC RELIEF AND WITTY STATEMENTS TO RELIEVE THE TENSION DURING THOSE TENSE AND TRYING MOMENTS WHEN WE ARE DEEP IN DEBATE. HE HAS THIS UNCANNY TALENT OF MAKING THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF LAW-MAKING LIVELY AND AMUSING. SEN. FLAVIER STANDS TALL HERE TODAY, HAVING ENJOYED A LONG AND ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER THAT WAS NEVER TAINTED, NEVER SOILED, THEN AND NOW, BY ANY ANOMALY OR WRONGDOING. HE LEAVES THE SENATE TODAY WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE LEGACY THAT WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED. HE HAS EARNED THE LABEL “MR. QUORUM” WHICH IS WHY I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED TO AIM FOR PERFECT ATTENDANCE. I ALSO SALUTE SEN. SERGIO OSMEÑA WHO LIKEWISE LEAVES US AN ENDURING LEGACY OF PROBITY, DEDICATION, ACUMEN AND, MOST OF ALL, AN INDEPENDENT AND PERCEPTIVE MIND. FROM SEN. OSMEÑA, I LEARNED MANY THINGS WHICH HE UNSELFISHLY SHARED WITH ME. SEN. OSMEÑA IS THE FEARLESS FISCALIZER AND PERHAPDS THE MOST HARDWORKING SENATOR, SPENDING LATE NIGHTS STUDYING AND ANALYZING CRITICAL BILLS AND ISSUES. HE PERHAPS HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF BILLS FILED AND ENACTED INTO LAW. KAYA MINSAN SINABI NG AKING AMA, KUNG MAYROON DAW AKONG ROLE MODEL NA DAPAT GAYAHIN, ANG PARISAN KO AY SI SEN. OSMEÑA AND I WILL NEVER GO WRONG! AND I HAVE TAKE NOTE OF THIS FATHERLY ADVICE. OF COURSE, THERE IS ALSO SEN. RAMON MAGSAYSAY, JR. WHO LEAVES THE SENATE WITH AN EQUALLY ENDURING LEGACY OF INTEGRITY, INDEPENDENCE AND BRILLIANCE. HE HAS SERVED THIS CHAMBER WITH UNWAVERING AND UNCOMPROMISING COMMITMENT. TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO OUR COLLEAGUES WHO NOW SEEK RE-ELECTION, WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR CAMPAIGN WE ALSO HOPE THAT YOU WILL REJOIN US IN THE NEXT CONGRESS. MR. SENATE PRESIDENT, YOU ARE THE “MR. SIPAG AND TIYAGA OF THIS CHAMBER, WHO RALLIED THIS CHAMBER TO AN UNPRECEDENTED LEGISLATION PERFORMANCE IN A SPAN OF ONE YEAR. WE ARE CERTAIN THAT YOU WILL CONDUCT AN HONORABLE CAMPAIGN THAT WILL NOT BE TAINTED BY CHEATING AND SCANDALS UNLIKE YOU KNOW WHO. AT THE RISK OF BEING ACCUSED OF CAMPAIGNING EARLY, I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR OUR REELECTIONIST COLLEAGUES. HINDI NAMAN AKO NANGANGAMPANYA, PERO ANG SINASABI KO LAMANG MAGAGALING ANG MGA TAONG ITO NA NAKASAMA KO SA SENADO. HUWAG NAMAN SANA MASAMAHAN NG MGA MAGNANAKAW AT MAMAMATAY TAO ANG SUSUNOD NA KONGRESO. FIRST, I EXPRESS MY DEEP ADMIRATION TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT FOR CONTINUING AND PURSUING THE BRAND AND STYLE OF LEADERSHIP OF YOUR PREDECESSORS. YOU PROVIDE FOR TODAY A PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP THAT IS DEMANDED BY THESE CRITICAL TIMES. SEN. FRANCIS PANGILINAN AND I HAD NEVER HAD ANY DISAGREEMENT ON ANY ISSUES, AND HE ZEALOUSLY DID HIS JOB AS SENATE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE POWERFUL COMMITTEE ON RULES. WHILE I HAVE TO DO MY DUTY AS A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITION, SEN. PANGILINAN AND I WERE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER PRODUCTIVELY. I ALSO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR RESIDENT LITIGATOR IN THE SENATE, SEN. JOKER ARROYO. HE TRIUMPHANTLY REPRESENTED THE SENATE AS LEAD COUNSEL ON SEVERAL CASES BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, AMONG THEM THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE CALIBRATED PREEMPTIVE RESPONSE, EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 464, PROCLAMATION 1017, AND THE SIGAW NG BAYAN PEOPLE’S INTITATIVE. SEN. JOKER ARROYO IS REPUTED TO BELONG TO THE ADMINISTRATION PARTY. BUT ON MANY TIMES, I THOUGHT HE WAS SPEAKING FOR THE OPPOSITION WHEN HE FRANKLY, AND SOMETIMES, BRUTALLY, COMMENTED ON CERTAIN ISSUES INVOLVING ANOMALIES IN THIS GOVERNMENT. SEN. EDGARDO J. ANGARA REMAINS, IN MY ESTIMATION, NOT JUST AMONG THE BRILLIANT, BUT ONE OF THE SOBER MINDS IN THE SENATE WHO HAS CARVED A REPUTATION OF HARD WORK. FROM HIM, I HAVE LEARNED THE VALUES OF DOING YOUR HOMEWORK AND MANY THINGS. HE IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE “MR. EDUCATION” TO ALL OF USAND WE HAVE BENEFITED FROM HIS WISDOM. LIKEWISE, SEN. PANFILO LACSON HAS BROUGHT WITH HIM A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO THE SENATE AND HAS USED THIS AS A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITION. HE HAS SERVED THIS CHAMBER WELL AND WE HOPE THAT HE RETURNS TO THE SENATE TO CONTINUE HIS WORK AS FISCALIZER. SEN. RALPH RECTO HAS ALSO GIVEN HIS BEST IN THIS CHAMBER AND HIS WORK, PARTICULARLY IN HIS COMMITTEES IS SOLID. HE IS THE RESIDENT TAX EXPERT IN THE SENATE AND HAS WORKED HARD TO BRING ABOUT A MORE RESPONSIVE, EQUITABLE AND LESS BURDENSOME TAXATION POLICIES FOR OUR PEOPLE. SAYANG, KUNG MAWAWALA SI SEN. RECTO SA SENADO, MABABAWASAN ANG MAGAGANDANG LALAKI DITO. AND FINALLY, I PAY RESPECT TO MY ONE AND ONLY MOTHER, SEN. LOI EJERCITO ESTRADA WHO CHOSE NOT TO EXERCISE PARENTAL PRIVILEGE AND AUTHORITY DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS OF OUR BEING TOGETHER IN THE SENATE, THE FIRST TIME PERHAPS IN OUR HISTORY WHERE MOTHER AND SON WERE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE. SEN. LOI NEVER TRIED TO INFLUENCE ME IN MY VOTES BECAUSE I MANAGED TO INFLUENCE HER INSTEAD. SHE HAS GIVEN ME PLENTY OF ADVICE. IN THE SENATE, SHE IS MOTHER TO US ALL BECAUSE OF HER SOBER AND SOMETIMES NON-CONFRONTATIONAL STANCE ON VARIOUS ISSUES. IN THE SENATE, SHE WAS COLLEAGUE, SEATMATE, MOTHER, ADVISER, COUNSEL, AND PSYCHIATRIST TO ME, NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER. AND SHE WORKED ZEALOUSLY AND DRAMATICALLY ON ISSUES CLOSE TO HER HEART, BEING THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON YOUTH, WOMEN AND FAMILY RELATIONS UNTIL SHE DECIDED TO YIELD THIS TO SEN. JAMBY MADRIGAL. SHE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY AND SILENTLY WITHOUT FANFARE, WITH NO NEED FOR PUBLICITY AND PRESS RELEASES BECAUSE THE MARK OF A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT IS DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE INTEREST AND WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE WITHOUT NEED OF RECOGNITION OR ATTENTION. IN THE SENATE, SEN. LOI CONTINUED HER COMMITMENT BY SPONSORING TWO LANDMARK PIECES OF LEGISLATION. THESE ARE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9208 OR THE ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ACT AND REPUBLIC ACT 9262 OR THE LAW AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SHE HAS CHOSEN TO RETURN TO PRIVATE LIFE AND PURSUE HER SOCIAL AND CIVIC WORKS. WE ARE HOPING SHE WILL CHANGE HER MIND BECAUSE I WILL MISS HER VERY MUCH. SHE ALSO SAYS THAT PART OF THIS CIVIC AGENDA IS TO TAKE CARE OF PRESIDENT ESTRADA AND SERVE AS A 24 HOUR DUTY GUARD AND CARETAKER. OF COURSE, THAT IS ANOTHER BIG AGENDA. MR. PRESIDENT, I ALSO WISH SEN. ALFREDO LIM AND SEN. LITO LAPID THE BEST SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE SENATE AND CAMPAIGN FOR ANOTHER POSITION. ALL OF US KNOW WHERE WE WILL BE MOST EFFECTIVE AND WOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE BETTER. AND TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO WILL REMAIN WITH ME TILL 2010, WE WILL CONTINUE OUR CRUSADE AND CAMPAIGN, NOT JUST FOR A BETTER GOVERNMENT, BUT FOR BETTER GOVERNANCE THAT WILL BE CREDIBLE, HONEST, AND WILL COMMAND THE RESPECT OF OUR PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES. I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK SEN. MIRIAM SANTIAGO AND SEN. JUAN PONCE ENRILE AND SEN. NENE PIMENTEL FOR HELPING ME AND TEACHING ME ON DIFFICULT LEGAL AND OTHER ISSUES IN THE SENATE. THEY HAVE PROVIDED ME WITH A SENSE OF BEARING IN THE SENATE. AND CERTAINLY, I THANK THE REST OF OUR COLLEAGUES TODAY FOR A HISTORIC 13TH CONGRESS, THE SENATE OF THE PEOPLE, THE SENATE THAT REFUSED TO BE COWED, THE SENATE THAT STOOD ITS GROUND. WE MUST ALWAYS REMIND OURSELVES THAT WE ARE NOT THE SENATE OF THE ADMINISTRATION, OF THE OPPOSITION, OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY, OF ANY INTEREST, OR OF ANY LOYALTY. WE ARE THE SENATE OF THE PEOPLE AND WE FOLLOW THE PEOPLE FOR WE ARE ONLY THEIR SERVANT. THE PEOPLE MUST REIGN SUPREME IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. I AM PROUD TODAY TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS CHAMBER, AND EVEN PROUDER TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING AND LEARNING FROM ERUDITE, BRILLIANT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, PRINCIPLED MINDS. AS WE CLOSE THIS CONGRESS TODAY, WE LOOK TO IT AS AN OCCASION FOR THE RENEWAL OF OUR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE, TO A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, TO RESPONSIVE GOVERNANCE AND TO A TRULY REPRESENTATIVE CONGRESS THAT REFLECTS THE GENUINE WILL AND SENTIMENT OF OUR PEOPLE. THANK YOU AND GOOD DAY. |
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Copyright © 2008 Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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