Drilon to attend LEDAC

Senate President Franklin Drilon is set to attend the Legislative—Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting called by President Arroyo today at Malacañang.

This would be the first time Drilon is setting foot on the Palace grounds since he called for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation in July last year.

Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Flavier, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan and Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. also said they would attend the meeting. 

On the other hand, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., a staunch critic of Mrs. Arroyo, said he saw no point in attending the meeting.

Drilon said he would reiterate before the LEDAC the Senate’s opposition to convening a constituent assembly with the House of Representatives and the Senate voting as one as a mode of amending the Constitution. The issue of Charter change is No. 2 on the meeting’s agenda.

"We will be discussing the priority measures. On top of this will be the budget which was delayed in the House for about nine months and referred to us as we went on our Lenten break," Drilon said.

Pangilinan said he wants "to hear what the executive has to say and we will respond."

"I believe that the Senate and the executive department, despite not being able to see eye to eye on certain issues, should be able to find common ground in order to address a number of issues affecting the nation," Pangilinan said.

He said attending the LEDAC is part of their commitment and duty to serve the people.

Meanwhile, Palace officials renewed appeals yesterday for lawmakers to set aside political squabbles and focus their energies on passing urgent bills before the second regular session of Congress ends in early June.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio, in separate interviews, also expressed hope that political differences can be set aside in today’s LEDAC meeting.

"As both chambers of Congress prepare to reopen their session, we hope that our legislators will focus more on legislative matters than on political witch-hunts and pass needed legislation," Bunye said.

Claudio appealed for the "suspension of politically-motivated investigations in favor of the legislation of measures badly needed for the stability and economic advancement of our country."

Among the priority bills that need final approval by Congress are the proposed P1.053-trillion national budget for 2006, the anti-terrorism act, the tax exemption for minimum-wage earners, the bio-fuel bill, and the anti-smuggling bill.

"These (bills) have been pending for years and have awaited the full attention of our legislators," Bunye said.

Claudio said the House has approved most of the urgent bills and it "just takes a little focus and sense of priority to enact them into law."

They also welcomed the participation of administration and opposition leaders in the Senate and the House in the LEDAC meeting, saying the gathering could help reduce political bickering.

"This is an opportunity for dialogue and forward planning so that key legislation can move forward," Bunye said. "We are optimistic that political differences can be momentarily set aside to ensure a productive LEDAC."

The LEDAC was first institutionalized by former President Fidel Ramos to allow for closer coordination between the executive and legislative branches of government on various pending bills. The last time such a meeting was held was in September last year.

Bunye and Claudio said the LEDAC meeting would allow both branches of government to forge a consensus on which bills to prioritize. — Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero