Palace exec denies lack of coordination with lawmakers

MANILA, Philippines - Embattled Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) chief Manuel Mamba yesterday vowed to be more visible to the Senate in the 16th Congress and denied that there was lack of coordination between his office and lawmakers.

Mamba, who was blamed after President Aquino vetoed several bills, said Malacañang would have more engagements with Congress to ensure the passage of key measures.

“I don’t have problems with (the House of Representatives). As for the Senate, I will try to be very visible this time,” Mamba told radio dzBB.

Mamba admitted that the President’s veto of several bills passed by Congress poses the “biggest challenge” for them.

“We will try to do everything to avoid these kinds of circumstances,” he said.

President Aquino had vetoed more than 70 bills since 2010. Among these bills are the Centenarian Act, the Magna Carta of the Poor, and the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Act of 2013.

Some lawmakers blamed Mamba for the veto and accused him of failing to coordinate with Congress on legislative matters.

Acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada even went as far as saying that Mamba should be removed from his post.

Mamba’s failure to coordinate with the Senate has been attributed to his feud with former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, which supposedly stemmed from a local political rivalry in Cagayan.

Mamba admitted that he is not on good terms with Enrile, who allegedly refused to face him when he was trying to pay a courtesy call.

“When I was appointed last year, February 2012, I tried to pay a courtesy call on Senate President Enrile but I was told that he does not want to see my face,” he said.

To avoid friction with Enrile, Mamba said Aquino had advised him to ask an undersecretary to coordinate with the Senate.

“I think I won’t be a congressman for four terms and mayor for two terms if I do not know how to talk or to get along with others. But I cannot force myself on others if they do not want to see me or talk to me,” Mamba said in Filipino. – With Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Catindig