journal no. 37 monday to wednesday, december 3 to … · · 2012-12-17journal no. 37 monday to...

JOURNAL NO. 37

Monday to Wednesday,

December 3 to 5, 2012 CALL TO ORDER

At 4:00 p.m., Deputy Speaker Lorenzo R. Tañada

III called the session to order.

NATIONAL ANTHEM AND PRAYER Pursuant to Section 72, Rule XI of the House

Rules, the Members sang the National Anthem and thereafter, observed a minute of silent prayer.

SUSPENSION OF SESSION

On motion of Representative Roman T. Romulo,

the session was suspended at 4:02 p.m.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION

The session resumed at 4:06 p.m.

DEFERMENT OF THE ROLL CALL On motion of Rep. Romulo, there being no

objection, the Body deferred the calling of the Roll.

QUESTION OF QUORUM

At this point, Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez raised a

question of quorum.


The Chair motu proprio suspended the session at 4:07 p.m.



ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GUESTS

Rep. Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia acknowledged the presence in the Session Hall of guests of Rep. Marcelino R. Teodoro.


On motion of Rep. De Venecia, the session was suspended at 4:31 p.m.




Thereupon, Rep. De Venecia acknowledged the presence in the Session Hall of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill supporters who were guests of Reps. Kimi S. Cojuangco, Angelo B. Palmones, Bernadette R. Herrera-Dy, Walden F. Bello, and Kaka J. Bag-ao.


On motion of Rep. De Venecia, the session was suspended at 4:34 p.m.




Rep. De Venecia acknowledged the presence of the family and pro-life advocates as well as the guests of Rep. Czarina D. Umali in the Session Hall.


On motion of Rep. De Venecia, the Chair suspended the session at 4:43 p.m.



ROLL CALL

On motion of Rep. Romulo, there being no objection, the Body proceeded to the Roll Call. Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary General called the Roll and the following Members were present:

Abad Abayon Acharon Acop

2 MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

Aggabao Aglipay Agyao Albano Alcala Almario Almonte Alvarez (A.) Alvarez (M.) Amatong Angara Antonino Apacible Apostol Aquino Arago Arenas Arnaiz Arquiza Arroyo (D.) Asilo Aumentado Bag-ao Bagasina Baguilat Banal Barzaga Bataoil Batocabe Bautista Bello Belmonte (F.) Belmonte (V.) Bernos Biazon Bichara Binay Bulut-Begtang Cabaluna Cabilao Yambao Cajayon Calimbas-Villarosa Calixto-Rubiano Cari Castelo Catamco Celeste Cerafica Chipeco Climaco Co Cojuangco (E.) Cojuangco (K.) Collantes Colmenares Cortuna Cosalan Crisologo

Cruz-Gonzales Cua Dayanghirang Daza De Jesus De Venecia Defensor Del Mar Del Rosario (A. A.) Dimaporo (F.) Dimaporo (I.) Duavit Dy Ebdane Enverga Eriguel Espina Estrella Fariñas Ferriol Flores Fortuno Fuentebella Fuentes Garay Garbin Garcia (A.) Garcia (P.) Garcia (P.J.) Garcia-Albano Garin (J.) Garin (S.) Gatchalian (R.) Gatchalian (W.) Go (A.) Golez (R.) Gonzales (A.) Gonzales (N.) Gonzalez Guanlao Gullas Gunigundo Haresco Herrera-Dy Ilagan Jalosjos (R.) Jalosjos (S.) Javier Joson Kho (D.) Lacson-Noel Lagdameo (M.) Lagman Leonen-Pizarro Lico Lopez (C.J.) Macapagal-Arroyo (J.) Magsaysay (E.)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012 3

Magsaysay (M.) Malapitan Mandanas Marañon Marcoleta Marcos Mariano Matugas Mellana Mendoza (J.) Mendoza (M.) Mercado (R.) Mercado-Revilla Miraflores Mirasol Montejo Nava Noel Nograles Obillo Ocampos Olivarez Ong Ortega (F.) Ortega (V.) Padilla Paez Palatino Palmones Pancho Pangandaman (M.) Pangandaman (N.) Panotes Paras Payuyo Piamonte Pichay Plaza Ponce-Enrile Primicias-Agabas Puno Quimbo Quisumbing Ramos Relampagos Remulla Robes Rodriguez (M.) Rodriguez (R.) Roman Romualdez Romulo Sacdalan Sahidulla Sakaluran Sambar San Luis Sarmiento (C.)

Sarmiento (M.) Sema Singson (E.) Socrates Suarez Sy-Alvarado Tan Tañada Teodoro Teves Tiangco Tieng Ting Tinga Tinio Tomawis Treñas Tugna Tupas Umali (C.) Umali (R.) Unabia Ungab Vargas-Alfonso Velarde Velasco Villar Violago Yap (S.) Yu Zamora Zubiri

With 210 Members present, the Chair declared the presence of a quorum. (See also Appendix I)

APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL

On motion of Rep. Romulo, there being no objection, the Body approved Journal No. 36, dated November 28, 2012.

REFERENCE OF BUSINESS

On motion of Rep. Romulo, there being no objection, the Body proceeded to the Reference of Business.

Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary General read on First Reading the titles of the following Bill and Resolutions, including the Messages from the Senate, Committee Reports, and Communications, which were referred to the appropriate Committees or consigned to the Archives as hereunder indicated:


BILL ON FIRST READING

House Bill No. 6712, entitled:

“AN ACT PROVIDING CERTAIN CONDI-TIONS ON THE PROCUREMENT AND IMPORTATION OF PREGNANT AND BREEDABLE HEIFERS BY THE NA-TIONAL DAIRY AUTHORITY, AMEND-ING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7884, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 'NATIONAL DAIRY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1995' ”

By Representative Cojuangco (K.)

TO THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD

RESOLUTIONS

House Resolution No. 2910, entitled:

“A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE NA-TIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DIREC-TOR NONNATUS CAESAR ROJAS AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR REGIONAL SERVICES, ATTY. VIRGILIO L. MENDEZ, FOR BUSTING THE AMAN FUTURES GROUP PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED PYRAMIDING SCAM, VICTIMIZING ABOUT 15,000 PEOPLE WHO LOST AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF P12 BILLION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

By Representative Aumentado

TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE


“A RESOLUTION URGING HOUSE COM-MITTEE ON HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, IN AID OF REMEDIAL LEGISLATION, TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COM-MISSION ON AUDIT TO SUBMIT AN EXECUTIVE STATUS REPORT OF THE STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND FOR EDUCATION (SAFE) FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2008-2009 FOR HIGHER EDUCA-TION INSTITUTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

By Representative Castelo

TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES


“RESOLUTION TO URGE THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE ASSIS-TANCE IN THE REHABILITATION OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIP-PINES MEDICAL CENTER AND ADOPT A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM THAT WILL ADDRESS THE MEDICAL NEEDS OF FILIPINO SOLDIERS”

By Representative Bataoil

TO THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH


“RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT IT STRONGLY URGES THE BU-REAU OF FIRE PROTECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LO-CAL GOVERNMENT TO STRICTLY IM-PLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THE FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, RA 9514, AND ITS IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS”

By Representatives Rodriguez (M.) and Rodri-guez (R.)

TO THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOV-ERNMENT


“A RESOLUTION ASKING CONGRESS TO TASK DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRON-MENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO REGULATE USE OF SKY LANTERNS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN LIEU OF ITS POSSIBLE ENVIRON-MENTAL HAZARDS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”


TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY

ADDITIONAL COAUTHORS

With the permission of the Body, the following

Members were made coauthors of the Bills and Resolutions hereunder indicated:

Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas for House Bills No.

1248, 2333, 5934, 6057 and 6137;


Rep. Edwin L. Olivarez for House Bill No. 2127; Rep. Roman T. Romulo for House Bill No. 3746; Rep. Albert Raymond S. Garcia for House Bills

No. 5801 and 5802; Rep. Pablo P. Garcia for House Bill No. 6087; Reps. Tomas V. Apacible and Alejandro Y.

Mirasol for House Bill No. 6113; Rep. Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica for House Bill

No. 6462; Rep. Sherwin N. Tugna for House Bill No. 6621; Rep. Eulogio "Amang" R. Magsaysay for House

Bill No. 6625; Rep. Daryl Grace J. Abayon for House Bill No.

6656; Rep. Jane T. Castro for House Bill No. 6661; Rep. Angelo B. Palmones for House Bills No.

6332 and 6333 and House Resolution No. 2627; and Rep. Ma. Amelita A. Calimbas-Villarosa for

House Resolutions No. 2627 and 2782.

MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

Message dated November 28, 2012 informing the House of Representatives that on November 27, 2012 the Senate approved the Conference Committee Report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 78, entitled:

“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND PROTECTION TO THE HOUSEHELPERS THEREBY AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE, ARTICLES 141, 142, 143, 148 AND 157 OF CHAPTER III OF P.D. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES”

and House Bill No. 6144, entitled:

“AN ACT INSTITUTING REGULATORY POLICIES FOR DOMESTIC WORK THEREBY ESTABLISHING STANDARDS OF PROTECTION TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF DOMESTIC WORKERS”


Message dated November 28, 2012 informing the House of Representatives that on November 28, 2012, the Senate requested for a conference and designated Senators Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel III, Manny Villar and Manuel 'Lito' M. Lapid as conferees on the part of the Senate on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 3287, entitled:

“AN ACT ENSURING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESSES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs) AND SENIOR CITIZENS (SCs)”


“AN ACT MANDATING THE USE OF HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES FOR PERSONS WITH DIS-ABILITIES, SENIOR CITIZENS AND EX-PECTANT MOTHERS”


Message dated November 29, 2012 informing the House of Representatives that on November 28, 2012, the Senate requested for a conference and designated Senators Franklin M. Drilon, Edgardo J. Angara, Ralph G. Recto, Teofisto L. Guingona III, Panfilo M. Lacson, Alan Peter 'Compañero' S. Cayetano and Antonio F. Trillanes IV as conferees on the part of the Senate on the disagreeing votes on House Bill No. 6455, entitled:

“AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE GOVERN-MENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL-IPPINES FROM JANUARY ONE TO DE-CEMBER THIRTY-ONE, TWO THOU-SAND AND THIRTEEN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”


Message dated November 29, 2012 informing the House of Representatives that on November 28, 2012, the Senate requested for a conference and designated Senators Franklin M. Drilon, Panfilo M. Lacson, Sergio R. Osmeña III, Ralph G. Recto, Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., Alan Peter 'Compañero' S. Cayetano and Pia S. Cayetano as conferees on the part of the Senate on the disagreeing provisions of Senate No. 3299, entitled:

“AN ACT RESTRUCTURING THE EXCISE TAX ON ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO


PRODUCTS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 131, 288 AND 289 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8424, OTHER-WISE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL IN-TERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1997, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9334, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”


“AN ACT RESTRUCTURING THE EXCISE TAX ON ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS”


COMMUNICATIONS

Letter dated November 15, 2012 of Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Executive Secretary, Office of the President, transmitting two (2) original copies each of the following Republic Acts, all of which were signed on even date by His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III:

1. R.A. 10304, entitled:

“AN ACT CONVERTING THE ALANGILAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BARANGAY ALANGILAN, MUNICIPALITY OF SA-GAY, PROVINCE OF CAMIGUIN INTO AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS ALANGILAN INTEGRATED SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE CAMARINES SUR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – TINAGO ANNEX IN THE CITY OF NAGA, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THE CAMARINES SUR NA-TIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS TINAGO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERE-FOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL IN BARANGAY BOGÑA, BA-CON DISTRICT, CITY OF SORSOGON, PROVINCE OF SORSOGON TO BE

KNOWN AS BOGÑA INTEGRATED SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY SAN RAFAEL, MUNICIPALITY OF PILAR, PROVINCE OF SORSOGON TO BE KNOWN AS SAN RAFAEL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BUENAVISTA HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TINAMBAC, PROVINCE OF CAMA-RINES SUR INTO A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS BUE-NAVISTA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERE-FOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY SAN ANTONIO, MUNICIPALITY OF BARCE-LONA, PROVINCE OF SORSOGON TO BE KNOWN AS SAN ANTONIO NA-TIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPRO-PRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY MACAMBOL, CITY OF MATI, PROV-INCE OF DAVAO ORIENTAL TO BE KNOWN AS MACAMBOL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY POBLACION, MUNICIPALITY OF LILOAN, PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE TO BE KNOWN AS LILOAN NATIONAL TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND AP-PROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”



“AN ACT CONVERTING THE ACAO NA-TIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY ACAO, MUNICIPALITY OF BAUANG, PROVINCE OF LA UNION INTO A NA-TIONAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS EULOGIO CLA-RENCE DE GUZMAN JUNIOR MEMO-RIAL NATIONAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY CAMA-LIG, MUNICIPALITY OF DUMALINAO, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR TO BE KNOWN AS CAMALIG NA-TIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPRO-PRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY FATIMA, MUNICIPALITY OF SAN MIGUEL, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR TO BE KNOWN AS FATIMA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY OLD MIRAPAO, MUNICIPALITY OF DINAS, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR TO BE KNOWN AS OLD MIRAPAO NA-TIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPRO-PRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE RIZAL NA-TIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – MANOOT ANNEX IN BARANGAY MANOOT, MU-NICIPALITY OF RIZAL, PROVINCE OF OCCIDENTAL MINDORO FROM THE RIZAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPEND-ENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS MANOOT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE CALINTAAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – POYPOY ANNEX IN BARANGAY POYPOY, MU-NICIPALITY OF CALINTAAN, PROV-INCE OF OCCIDENTAL MINDORO FROM THE CALINTAAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS POYPOY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND AP-PROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE BALATON NA-TIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – HIMANAG ANNEX IN BARANGAY HIMANAG, MUNICIPALITY OF LAGONOY, PROV-INCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THE BALATON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPEND-ENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS HIMANAG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ANNEX OF THE SUMILAO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY VISTA-VILLA, MUNICIPALITY OF SUMILAO, PROV-INCE OF BUKIDNON TO BE KNOWN AS SUMILAO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – VISTA-VILLA ANNEX AND APPROPRI-ATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE ZARAGOSA NATIONAL SCHOOL – CANTIASAY ANNEX IN BARANGAY CANTIASAY, CITY OF SURIGAO, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL NORTE FROM THE ZARAGOSA NATIONAL SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPEND-ENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS CANTIASAY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY HINAPU, CITY OF MAASIN, PROVINCE OF


SOUTHERN LEYTE TO BE KNOWN AS HINAPU NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERE-FOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ANNEX OF THE BAUNGON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY DANATAG, MUNICIPALITY OF BAUNGON, PROV-INCE OF BUKIDNON TO BE KNOWN AS BAUNGON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – DANATAG ANNEX AND APPROPRIAT-ING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE LEONARDO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – DAWA AN-NEX IN BARANGAY DAWA, MUNICI-PALITY OF JOSEFINA, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR FROM THE LEONARDO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPEND-ENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS DAWA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE CONSTANCIO PADILLA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – CAANAWAN ANNEX IN BARANGAY CAANAWAN, CITY OF SAN JOSE, PROVINCE OF NUEVA ECIJA FROM THE CONSTANCIO PADILLA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS CAANA-WAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE CARIGARA SCHOOL OF FISHERIES – SOGOD AN-NEX IN BARANGAY SOGOD, MUNICI-PALITY OF CARIGARA, PROVINCE OF LEYTE FROM THE CARIGARA SCHOOL OF FISHERIES, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS SOGOD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND AP-PROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE SAN ISIDRO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – CARMEL ANNEX IN BARANGAY POTOT, MU-NICIPALITY OF LIBMANAN, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THE SAN ISIDRO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPEND-ENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS CARMEL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE SAN ISIDRO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – EDUARDO T. AGOMAA ANNEX IN BARANGAY DUANG NIOG, MUNICIPALITY OF LIB-MANAN, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THE SAN ISIDRO NA-TIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS EDUARDO T. AGOMAA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE SAN JUAN NA-TIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – MANTALISAY ANNEX IN BARANGAY MANTALISAY, MUNICIPALITY OF LIBMANAN, PROV-INCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THE SAN JUAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPEND-ENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS MANTALISAY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE MINALABAC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – ANTIPOLO ANNEX IN BARANGAY ANTIPOLO, MUNICIPALITY OF MINALABAC, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THE MINALABAC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS ANTIPOLO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND AP-PROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”



“AN ACT SEPARATING THE SAN FER-NANDO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – PINAMASAGAN ANNEX IN BARANGAY PINAMASAGAN, MUNICIPALITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THE SAN FERNANDO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPEND-ENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS PINAMASAGAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE COMMON-WEALTH NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GUBAAN ANNEX IN BARANGAY GUBAAN, MUNICIPALITY OF AURORA, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR FROM THE COMMONWEALTH NA-TIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS GUBAAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERE-FOR”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE MAHAYAG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – BONIAO ANNEX IN BARANGAY BONIAO, MU-NICIPALITY OF MAHAYAG, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR FROM THE MAHAYAG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPEND-ENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS BONIAO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF ROMBLON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – ODIONGAN IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ODIONGAN, PROVINCE OF ROMBLON TO ODIONGAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL”


“AN ACT SEPARATING THE DALUPAON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – TINAL-MUD ANNEX IN BARANGAY TINAL-

MUD, MUNICIPALITY OF PASACAO, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THE DALUPAON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS TINALMUD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND AP-PROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ELEMEN-TARY SCHOOL IN BARANGAY ADDI-TION HILLS, CITY OF MANDALUYONG TO BE KNOWN AS MANDALUYONG ADDITION HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL IN BARANGAY ADDITION HILLS, CITY OF MANDALUYONG TO BE KNOWN AS ADDITION HILLS IN-TEGRATED SCHOOL AND APPROPRI-ATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

TO THE ARCHIVES



“AN ACT CONVERTING THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO) EX-TENSION OFFICE LOCATED IN THE IS-LAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL, PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL NORTE INTO A REGULAR LTO DISTRICT OF-FICE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERE-FOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”


“AN ACT CONVERTING THE EXTENSION OFFICE OF THE LAND TRANSPORTA-TION OFFICE (LTO) IN THE CITY OF DASMARIÑAS, CAVITE INTO A REGU-LAR DISTRICT OFFICE TO BE KNOWN AS THE LTO DISTRICT OFFICE OF DASMARIÑAS CITY, CAVITE, APPRO-


PRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

TO THE ARCHIVES



“AN ACT CREATING FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF CALAMBA AND THE MUNICIPALI-TIES OF LOS BAÑOS AND CABUYAO, ALL IN THE PROVINCE OF LAGUNA, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SEC-TION 14, PARAGRAPH (E) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 'THE JUDICIARY REOR-GANIZATION ACT OF 1980', AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


“AN ACT CREATING FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF BOGO, PROVINCE OF CEBU, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SEC-TION 14, PARAGRAPH (H) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 'THE JUDICI-ARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980', AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERE-FOR”


“AN ACT CREATING FOUR (4) ADDI-TIONAL BRANCHES OF THE RE-GIONAL TRIAL COURT AND THREE (3) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF VALENZUELA, METRO MANILA, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SEC-TION 14(D) AND SECTION 27 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 'THE JUDICIARY REOR-

GANIZATION ACT OF 1980', AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

TO THE ARCHIVES


Rep. De Venecia acknowledged the presence in

the Session Hall of guests of Rep. Rachel Marguerite B. Del Mar.

THE PRIVILEGE HOUR

It being a Monday, on motion of Rep. Romulo,

there being no objection, the Chair declared a Privilege Hour and recognized Rep. Czarina D. Umali from the Third District of Nueva Ecija for her privilege speech.

PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. UMALI (C.) Initially discussing the values that guided her as

a private person and public servant, Rep. Umali (C.) rebutted a speech previously delivered by Rep. Josefina M. Joson that alleged high crimes were committed by the leaders of the province of Nueva Ecija. She in turn alleged that her colleague was exploiting the recent death of a radio broadcaster in their province for political vendetta and that it was the Joson family that had spawned political violence and bloodshed for many decades therein. She pointed out that because they wanted reform and change, the Novo Ecijanons elected new leaders who have become responsible for the peace and order they are currently experiencing.

QUERY OF REP. JOSON

To Rep. Joson’s query, Rep. Banal pointed out

that Rep. Umali (C.) had already taken her seat and this by tradition meant that she was not willing to be interpellated.

Thereupon, Rep. Joson said that she wanted to

make a manifestation.


Thereupon, the session was suspended at 5:20 p.m., upon motion of Rep. Romulo.




REMARKS OF REP. ROMULO

Rep. Romulo stated that Rep. Joson had manifested her intent to rise on a question of personal and collective privilege because her name was mentioned in the speech of Rep. Umali (C.). Upon Rep. Romulo’s motion, the Chair recognized Rep. Joson from the First District of Nueva Ecija.

QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. JOSON

Speaking in Filipino, Rep. Joson reminded Rep. Umali (C.) that a member of the Joson family was the first to be victimized by a killing 33 years ago and that after being acquitted for the murder of the mayor of Cabanatuan City, her husband and brother-in-law were still able to serve again the province of Nueva Ecija as a town mayor and provincial governor, respectively. She added that not one member of the media was killed during the 50-year reign of the Josons even though the latter had been continuously criticized in print and broadcast media.

REFERRAL OF REPS. UMALI (C.)

AND JOSON’S SPEECHES

On motion of Rep. Romulo, there being no objection, the Body referred the privilege speech of Rep. Umali and the question of privilege of Rep. Joson to the Committee on Rules.

Thereafter, on further motion of Rep. Romulo, the Chair recognized Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez from the Second District of Cagayan de Oro City for his privilege speech.

PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF

REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.) Rep. Rodriguez spoke on the directive of the

People’s Republic of China (PROC) to its border patrol police to board and expel foreign ships entering the South China Sea, including parts of the West Philippine Sea, beginning January 1, 2013. He stated that the PROC directive deserves the condemnation of the entire Filipino people and the entire world. He supported the demand of President Benigno C. Aquino III for China to issue a diplomatic note explaining its basis for issuing a policy of boarding innocent vessels, and for the Philippines to avail itself of the provisions of International Law in pursuing its claims in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) or the Spratlys and Panatag Shoal.

He then explained in detail his position on the

following matters, among others: 1) why the PROC directive violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the sovereign rights of the Philippines over its 200-mile

exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea and over the KIG and the Panatag Shoal; and 2) the need for the Philippine government to adopt a legal approach to the resolution of the issues of the Spratlys and Panatag Shoal so as to prevent an armed conflict with China, by bringing to compulsory arbitration the interpretation of the UNCLOS provisions on the nine-dash line and the exclusive economic zone as well as the interpretation of the Panatag Shoal whether as a rock or an island.

Lastly, he cited his and Rep. Mel Senen S.

Sarmiento’s initiatives in the recent International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) where they succeeded in inserting provisions in the ICAPP Baku Declaration which 1) does not entitle the PROC to a joint development of the Philippine exclusive economic zone, 2) discourages the use of force in resolving the territorial dispute, and 3) provides that political disputes should not hinder economic and cultural exchanges. He then urged his colleagues to rally behind President Aquino in pursuing the country’s claims to the disputed territories.


On motion of Rep. Romulo, the session was suspended at 6:04 p.m.



DESIGNATION OF MEMBERS TO THE

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON

HOUSE BILL NO. 5727 AND SENATE BILL

NO. 3299

On motion of Rep. Romulo, there being no objection, the Body designated the following as House conferees to reconcile the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 5727 and Senate Bill No. 3299, or the Sin Tax Bill: Reps. Isidro T. Ungab, Neptali M. Gonzales II, Henedina R. Abad, Jocelyn S. Limkaichong, Janette L. Garin, Eric G. Singson Jr., Luis R. Villafuerte, Arnulfo P. Fuentebella, for the Majority, and Minority Leader Danilo E. Suarez for the Minority.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

OF REP. REMULLA

Thereafter, Deputy Speaker Tañada recognized

Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin C. Remulla who inquired whether the Body already exceeded the one-hour limit for the Privilege Hour.

With the permission of the Chair, Rep. Romulo said that per the Secretariat, the Body already consumed 43 minutes of the Privilege Hour.


INTERPELLATION OF REP. REMULLA Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Remulla

discussed with Rep. Rodriguez (R.) the advantages of naming South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea; the status and effect of the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law; the obligations of the United States (US) to the country under the Mutual Defense Treaty in case Chinese personnel board a Philippine sea vessel that is within the latter’s exclusive economic zone; China’s territorial claims using the nine-dash demarcation line; and China’s declaration that it would only hold a bilateral, and not multilateral, talk with the Philippines which meanwhile adopts a contrary position.

MOTION OF REP. MANDANAS

Recognized by the Chair, Rep. Hermilando I.

Mandanas noted that Rep. Rodriguez’ (R.) speech had a bearing on their commitment to sovereignty. He then requested that the Privilege Hour be extended to allow him and the other Members to ask further questions thereon.

REMARKS OF THE CHAIR

In response, the Chair informed Rep. Mandanas

that according to Section 121 of the Rules of the House, an extension of the Privilege Hour would require a unanimous consent of the Members present.

Rep. Romulo added that the same Section of the

Rules provides that although the Privilege Hour could be extended by a unanimous vote, it may only be continued after the Body shall have considered its Business for the Day.

SUSPENSION OF THE PRIVILEGE HOUR

On motion of Rep. Romulo, there being no

objection, the Body suspended the Privilege Hour.

APPROVAL ON THIRD READING

OF CERTAIN HOUSE BILLS AND

JOINT RESOLUTION On successive motions of Rep. Janette L. Garin,

there being no objection, the Body proceeded to the approval on Third Reading of the following House Bills and Joint Resolution, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on November 28, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the Rules of the House:

1. House Bill No. 6703, entitled: “AN ACT

AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7306, ENTITLED ‘AN ACT PROVID-

ING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S TELEVISION NET-WORK, INCORPORATED, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FOR ITS SOURCES OF FUNDING AND FOR OTHER PUR-POSES’”;

2. House Bill No. 6709, entitled: “AN

ACT REQUIRING THE USE OF FILI-PINO SIGN LANGUAGE INSETS FOR LOCAL NEWS PROGRAMS, AMEND-ING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 22 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘MAGNA CARTA FOR PER-SONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs)’”;

3. House Joint Resolution No. 37, entitled:

“JOINT RESOLUTION EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLA-TIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO MONITOR AND OVERSEE THE IM-PLEMENTATION OF THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO INCLUDE OTHER DEFENSE AND STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES CON-CURRED WITH BY THE SENATE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2”;

4. House Bill No. 4273, entitled: “AN

ACT CONVERTING EASTBANK ROAD, MANGGAHAN FLOODWAY (PASIG-CAINTA-TAYTAY SECTION) FROM PROVINCIAL ROAD TO NA-TIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIAT-ING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

5. House Bill No. 6537, entitled: “AN ACT NAMING THE DIVERSION ROAD IN SORSOGON CITY, PROV-INCE OF SORSOGON AS SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO III DIVERSION ROAD”;

6. House Bill No. 6456, entitled: “AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF STO. TOMAS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CAMA-LIGAN, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR TO CAMALIGAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL”;


CHANGING THE NAME OF BATA-


SAN HILLS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY BATASAN HILLS, CITY OF QUEZON, METRO MANILA TO CORAZON C. AQUINO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL”; and


CREATING A BARANGAY TO BE KNOWN AS BARANGAY RIZAL IN THE CITY OF MAKATI.”

The Chair then directed the Secretary General to

call the Roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second Roll Call was made.

RESULT OF THE VOTING

The result of the voting was as follows: Affirmative:

Abad Abayon Acharon Acop Aggabao Aglipay Agyao Albano Alcala Almario Almonte Alvarez (A.) Alvarez (M.) Amatong Angara Antonino Apacible Apostol Aquino Arago Arenas Arnaiz Arquiza Arroyo (D.) Asilo Aumentado Bag-ao Bagasina Baguilat Banal Barzaga Bataoil Batocabe Bautista Bello Belmonte (F.)

Belmonte (V.) Bernos Biazon Bichara Binay Bulut-Begtang Cabaluna Cabilao Yambao Cajayon Calimbas-Villarosa Calixto-Rubiano Cari Castelo Catamco Celeste Cerafica Chipeco Climaco Co Cojuangco (E.) Cojuangco (K.) Collantes Colmenares Cortuna Cosalan Crisologo Cruz-Gonzales Cua Dayanghirang Daza De Jesus De Venecia Defensor Del Mar Del Rosario (A. A.) Dimaporo (F.) Dimaporo (I.) Duavit Dy Ebdane Enverga Eriguel Espina Estrella Fariñas Ferriol Flores Fortuno Fuentebella Fuentes Garay Garbin Garcia (A.) Garcia (P.) Garcia (P.J.) Garcia-Albano Garin (J.) Garin (S.)


Gatchalian (R.) Gatchalian (W.) Go (A.) Golez (R.) Gonzales (A.) Gonzales (N.) Gonzalez Guanlao Gullas Gunigundo Haresco Herrera-Dy Ilagan Jalosjos (R.) Jalosjos (S.) Javier Joson Kho (D.) Lacson-Noel Lagdameo (M.) Lagman Leonen-Pizarro Lico Lopez (C.J.) Macapagal-Arroyo (J.) Magsaysay (E.) Magsaysay (M.) Malapitan Mandanas Marañon Marcoleta Marcos Mariano Matugas Mellana Mendoza (J.) Mendoza (M.) Mercado (R.) Mercado-Revilla Miraflores Mirasol Montejo Nava Noel Nograles Obillo Ocampos Olivarez Ong Ortega (F.) Ortega (V.) Padilla Paez Palatino Palmones Pancho Pangandaman (M.) Pangandaman (N.)

Panotes Paras Payuyo Piamonte Pichay Plaza Ponce-Enrile Primicias-Agabas Puno Quimbo Quisumbing Ramos Relampagos Remulla Robes Rodriguez (M.) Rodriguez (R.) Roman Romualdez Romulo Sacdalan Sahidulla Sakaluran Sambar San Luis Sarmiento (C.) Sarmiento (M.) Sema Singson (E.) Socrates Suarez Sy-Alvarado Tan Tañada Teodoro Teves Tiangco Tieng Ting Tinga Tinio Tomawis Treñas Tugna Tupas Umali (C.) Umali (R.) Unabia Ungab Vargas-Alfonso Velarde Velasco Villar Violago Yap (S.) Yu Zamora Zubiri


Negative:

None Abstention:

None With 210 affirmative votes, no negative votes

and no abstentions, the Body approved on Third Reading the aforementioned House Bills and House Joint Resolution.

MOTION OF REP. GARIN (J.)

Rep. Garin then moved that the Body resume

consideration on Second Reading of House Bill No. 4244, entitled: “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, AND POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”

MANIFESTATION OF REP. SOCRATES

Before the Body could act thereon, Rep.

Victorino Dennis M. Socrates manifested his desire to rise on a question of personal and collective privilege.


The Chair motu proprio declared a recess at 6:42

p.m.



REMARKS OF REP. SOCRATES When the Chair asked him what the specific

nature of his question of privilege was so the former could determine if it was in order, Rep. Socrates cited the due process in House proceedings. He pointed out that during the session of November 26, 2012, he had objected to a motion to open the period of amendments on House Bill No. 4244 because the House had not yet acted on a previous motion made on August 15, 2012 to suspend consideration of the Bill to a definite date.


At this point, the Chair asked Rep. Socrates to

wait for his ruling on whether his question of privilege was in the nature provided for in Section 101 of the House Rules.

REMARKS OF REP. GONZALES (N.) With the permission of the Chair, Majority

Leader Neptali M. Gonzales II stressed that Rep. Socrates could have filed a motion for reconsideration on the Body’s approval of the motion to open the period of amendments on House Bill No. 4244 on said date or the day afterwards. Pointing out that three session days had already passed, he concluded that Rep. Socrates could not move for reconsideration anymore and his question of privilege was not proper.

REMARKS OF REP. SOCRATES

Rep. Socrates said that it was because he could

no longer file a motion for reconsideration that he wanted to avail of his right to speak on any matter that irritated him as provided for under Section 101 of the House Rules.

RULING OF THE CHAIR

Adverting to the same rule, the Chair said that a

Member can rise on a question of privilege if the integrity of the House was in question and ruled that he could not allow Rep. Socrates to avail of said right as there was no such question.

REP. SOCRATES’ APPEAL FROM

THE RULING OF THE CHAIR Rep. Socrates appealed the ruling of the Chair,

saying he only wanted to avail of the right of any Member to speak on any matter that bothered him.

REMARKS OF REP. GONZALES (N.) After the Chair reiterated his ruling and

explanation, Rep. Gonzales said that the parliamentary status was that the Chair had already made a ruling but that Rep. Socrates was appealing it.

REMARKS OF REP. SOCRATES

With the Chair giving him five minutes to

explain his appeal, Rep. Socrates reiterated what happened in the session of November 26, 2012. He added that the Chair had ruled him out of order but did not act on an appeal that he made as provided for in Section 108 of the House Rules. He said that when Rep. Gonzales (N.) proceeded with his amendment by substitution, he manifested his continuing objection.

At this point, Rep. Socrates emphasized that the unceremonious disregard of his appeal violated the


House Rules as well as the due process, thus affecting the integrity of the House and the entire legal system which largely consists of statutes enacted by Congress. He argued that the instant measure was not urgent and that the period of sponsorship and debate thereon was prematurely terminated. Clarifying that he was not unduly delaying the passage thereof as this presupposed that it had an intrinsic and unquestionable right to be there, he said he was only preventing a national calamity using parliamentary and lawful means.

REMARKS OF REP. GONZALES (N.)

Rep. Gonzales pointed out that the plenary had

already acted on the motion to resume consideration of the Bill and to accept the substitute bill; and stressed that the plenary was the supreme authority of the House.

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON

REP. SOCRATES’ APPEAL Rep. Gonzales then moved that the Body vote on

Rep. Socrates’ appeal on the Chair’s denial of his request to rise on a question of privilege; and with majority of the Members voting against it, the appeal was lost.

MOTION OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Rep. Rodriguez moved for a nominal voting

considering that the result of the viva voce voting was not clear. He stated that under the Rules, 20 percent of the Members present should agree to have a nominal voting.

Rep. Gonzales (N.) adopted the motion of Rep.

Rodriguez and inquired from the Secretariat on the number of Members present in the Session Hall.


Thereupon, the session was suspended at 7:01

p.m., upon motion of Rep. Gonzales (N.).

RESUMPTION OF SESSION The session resumed at 7:01 p.m.


Upon the information given by the Secretariat,

Rep. Gonzales (N.) informed the Body that 222 Members were present and that 45 Members, comprising 20 percent thereof, should agree to call for a nominal voting. He then requested that the voting be done by a count by tellers.

MOTION OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.) Rep. Rodriguez stated that the presence of 222

Members was established two hours ago and that they should have warm bodies in order to determine the 20 percent of the Members present. He then moved for the calling of the Roll.

ROLL CALL

Upon motion of Rep. Gonzales (N.), there being

no objection, the Body proceeded to the calling of the Roll.

Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary

General called the Roll and the following Members were present:

Abad Abayon Acharon Acop Aglipay Agyao Albano Alcala Almario Almonte Alvarez (A.) Antonino Apacible Apostol Aquino Arenas Arnaiz Arquiza Asilo Aumentado Bag-ao Bagasina Baguilat Banal Barzaga Bataoil Batocabe Bello Belmonte (F.) Bernos Biazon Bichara Binay Bonoan-David Bulut-Begtang Cabaluna Cabilao Yambao Calimbas-Villarosa Calixto-Rubiano


Canonigo Cari Castelo Castro Catamco Celeste Chipeco Climaco Cojuangco (E.) Cojuangco (K.) Collantes Colmenares Cortuna Cosalan Crisologo Cruz-Gonzales Cua Daza De Jesus De Venecia Defensor Del Mar Del Rosario (A. A.) Dimaporo (F.) Dimaporo (I.) Duavit Ebdane Enverga Eriguel Espina Estrella Ferriol Flores Fortuno Fuentebella Fuentes Garay Garbin Garcia (A.) Garcia (P.) Garcia (P.J.) Garcia-Albano Garin (J.) Garin (S.) Gatchalian (R.) Gatchalian (W.) Go (A.C.) Go (A.) Golez (R.) Gonzales (A.) Gonzales (N.) Gonzalez Guanlao Gullas Gunigundo Haresco Herrera-Dy Jalosjos (R.)

Joson Kho (D.) Labadlabad Lacson-Noel Lagdameo (M.) Lagman Lanete Lico Lopez (C.) Magsaysay (E.) Malapitan Mandanas Marcoleta Mariano Matugas Mellana Mendoza (J.) Mendoza (M.) Mercado (R.) Mercado-Revilla Miraflores Mirasol Montejo Nava Noel Nograles Obillo Ocampos Olivarez Ong Ortega (F.) Padilla Paez Palatino Palmones Pancho Pangandaman (N.) Panotes Paras Payuyo Plaza Ponce-Enrile Primicias-Agabas Puno Quimbo Ramos Remulla Robes Rodriguez (M.) Rodriguez (R.) Roman Romualdez Romulo Sacdalan Sahidulla Sakaluran Salimbangon Sambar


Sarmiento (C.) Sarmiento (M.) Sema Singson (E.) Socrates Suarez Sy-Alvarado Tañada Teodoro Teves Tiangco Tieng Ting Tinga Tinio Tomawis Treñas Tugna Tupas Ty Umali (C.) Umali (R.) Vargas-Alfonso Velarde Velasco Villar Villarica Violago Yap (S.) Yu Zamora Zubiri

With 187 Members responding to the Call, the Chair declared the presence of a quorum.


Rep. Gonzales stated that 38 of the 187 Members

present would comprise the 20 percent.

Rep. Rodriguez (R.) however pointed out that the basis should only be 37 considering that 20 percent of 187 is 37.4 and appealed the ruling that 38 Members comprise the 20 percent.

Rep. Gonzales stated that there can only be one appeal and maintained that the basis for the 20 percent of 187 is 38 Members. Thereafter, on his motion, the Chair appointed Reps. Maria Carmen S. Zamora, Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay, and Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr. to act as tellers.


OF REP. OCAMPOS Before the Body could proceed with the counting

by tellers, the Chair recognized Rep. Loreto Leo

“Leo” S. Ocampos who inquired into the current parliamentary status on the floor.


In reply, Rep. Gonzales stated that the Chair had

denied the request of Rep. Socrates to rise on a question of privilege and that the latter had appealed said ruling. He said that the appeal was lost through viva voce voting and that Rep. Rodriguez (R.) had moved for a nominal voting which should be approved by one-fifth or 20 percent of all the Members present.

He explained that if 38 Members would agree, then the Body would proceed to the nominal voting and allow the Members to cast and explain their “yes” or “no” vote. He however clarified that the parliamentary status was that the Body was still establishing whether there would be 38 Members who would agree to a nominal voting on the appeal of Rep. Socrates thus four tellers were appointed to determine if 38 Members could be had.

COUNT BY TELLERS ON

REP. RODRIGUEZ’ (R.) MOTION

FOR NOMINAL VOTING On a previous motion of Rep. Gonzales (N.),

there being no objection, the Chair called for a count by tellers.

The designated teller, Rep. Zamora, on the right

side of the Session Hall facing the rostrum, stated that five Members had risen in favor of nominal voting.

After asking next the Members seated in the middle section to rise if in favor of nominal voting, the Chair noted that the number had reached 39 and that the one-fifth requirement had been satisfied.

MOTION OF REP. GONZALES (N.)

Rep. Gonzales thereupon moved for a nominal

voting on Rep. Socrates’ appeal from the ruling of the Chair.

The Chair stated that the explanation of vote would be made after the counting thereof.

Rep. Gonzales further clarified that when a Member is called by the Secretary General, he should state for the record his vote and would be given three minutes to explain the same.


The Chair clarified that that Body would be

voting to allow Rep. Socrates ten minutes to speak on


a question of personal and collective privilege and not on the RH Bill.


OF REP. ANTONINO

Recognized by the Chair, Rep. Rodolfo W. Antonino inquired whether a “yes” vote would mean allowing Rep. Socrates to deliver his speech, while a “no” vote would mean otherwise, to which the Chair answered in the affirmative.


OF REP. CRISOLOGO

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Vincent P. Crisologo raised a parliamentary inquiry to which the Chair replied that the Body simply had to vote on the appeal of Rep. Socrates that he be given 10 minutes to speak on a question of privilege, after which the Body would proceed with the ordinary course of business.


Thereafter, the Chair restated that an affirmative vote would give Rep. Socrates 10 minutes to speak, while a negative vote would no longer give him said opportunity.

REMARKS OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Deputy Speaker Pablo P. Garcia, upon

recognition by the Chair, referred to the earlier statement of the latter that the explanation of vote could be done only after the voting. He however referred to Section 117 of the Rules of the House, and pointed out that voting other than Third Reading voting allows a Member to explain his vote for three minutes so that it is no longer necessary for a Member to await the result of the voting before he could do so.

The Chair agreed to Rep. Garcia’s statement.

NOMINAL VOTING ON REP. SOCRATES’

APPEAL FROM THE RULING OF THE CHAIR Pursuant to Section 115, Rule XV of the Rules of

the House, at the request of at least 39 Members and on a previous motion of Rep. Gonzales (N.), there being no objection, the Body proceeded to the nominal voting on Rep. Socrates’ appeal from the ruling of the Chair which denied him of his reservation to speak on a question of privilege.



EXPLANATION OF VOTES

The following Members explained their votes:

1. Rep. Erico B. Aumentado voted “yes” to

allow Rep. Socrates to deliver his speech, stating that freedom of expression is important in a democratic society.

2. Rep. Kaka J. Bag-ao voted “no” because

she would like the Members to proceed to the RH Bill voting.

3. Rep. Kimi S. Cojuangco voted in the negative because the House has been so kind to the Members who are against the RH Bill, causing the delay of its approval for so long that she would now like to cast her vote thereon.

4. Rep. Janette L. Garin said that the issue

goes deeper than merely allowing a colleague to speak on the floor or not. She then voted against the appeal because she wanted the Body to proceed with real and true legislative work.

5. After citing his experience as Majority Floor Leader for the past 15 years, Rep. Gonzales (N.) stressed that he would be the last person to violate a Member’s right to rise on a question of privilege but clarified that with only 11 session days left before the Christmas break, such right should be subservient to the greater public interest. He then cast a negative vote to the appeal of Rep. Socrates so that the Members could finally vote on the RH Bill to show to their constituents that they deserve to be called their Representatives.

6. Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, in explaining his negative vote said that due process, though a cardinal principle in democracy, has been violated many times as in the present case where this principle was being used to unduly delay the approval of the RH Bill. He underscored that the history of the RH Bill has spanned more than 30 years already and that any further delay will be an offense against the Filipino women and children.


7. Speaking in Filipino, Rep. Hermilando I. Mandanas voted in favor of the appeal to show respect to the right of a fellow Representative to express his beliefs and views on the RH Bill.

8. Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta voted “no”

for two reasons: first, majority of the Members do not share Rep. Socrates’ lament so it cannot be a proper subject for a question of privilege; and second, while the Catholic Church openly opposes the RH Bill because the measure promotes the use of artificial birth control schemes, the Church should be consistent in its stand and oppose in vitro pregnancy.

9. Deputy Speaker Remulla recounted that

Rep. Socrates had spoken on the same subject several times on the floor. He voted “no” to the appeal because for orderly procedure, the Body has to follow the Rules of the House which provide that no Member shall be allowed to speak on a subject matter that is already pending before a committee or the plenary.

10. Rep. Rodriguez (R.) cast an affirmative

vote by explaining that Rep. Socrates was being deprived of his right to speak as guaranteed under the Constitution and the Rules of the House. He also pointed out that the substitute bill did not pass the Committee on Population and Development. He then urged his pro-RH colleagues to be fair in their dealings because a time might come when they might find themselves on the opposite side of the fence and similarly resent the idea of a measure being railroaded.

11. Rep. Tobias “Toby” M. Tiangco voted

“yes” to the appeal of Rep. Socrates as he opined that the Chair should have been more liberal in allowing him to speak on a question of privilege. He said that it is Rep. Socrates’ right to do so as the duly elected representative of his district and that what is personal to him may not be personal to the other Members. In hindsight, he noted that Rep. Socrates would have already delivered his speech if he were only given the 10 minutes to take the floor a while back, and the Body would not have consumed one-and-a-half hours

deciding on the issue as what was happening at the moment.

12. Rep. Sherwin N. Tugna agreed that it is the right of every Member to speak on any matter on a question of privilege but he or she must first seek the permission of the Chair to do so. He noted that the Chair had earlier denied Rep. Socrates’ request and for this reason, he voted “no” to the appeal.

13. Rep. Jose F. Zubiri III voted against Rep. Socrates’ appeal considering that the Members who were for or against it had been given ample time to debate on the RH issue. He emphasized that any attempt to delay or even deny a vote on the RH Bill is an attack on the democratic principles which the House stands for. He appealed to the Members to vote on the measure, as the pro-RH Members are not afraid of the outcome of the voting.

RESULT OF THE VOTING ON

REP. SOCRATES’ APPEAL

The result of the voting was as follows:

Affirmative:

Abayon Acharon Acop Alcover Almonte Antonino Apostol Aquino Arenas Arnaiz Asilo Aumentado Bagasina Bataoil Bernos Bichara Bonoan-David Cabaluna Cabilao Yambao Calimbas-Villarosa Cari Castro Climaco Cortuna Cosalan Crisologo Cua Daza


De Venecia Del Mar Del Rosario (A. A.) Dimaporo (F.) Fortuno Garay Garbin Garcia (A.) Garcia (P.) Garcia (P.J.) Golez (R.) Gonzales (A.) Gonzalez Gullas Labadlabad Lanete Lico Lopez (C.) Magsaysay (M.) Malapitan Mandanas Matugas Mellana Mercado (R.) Mercado-Revilla Miraflores Mirasol Montejo Nava Noel Nograles Obillo Olivarez Ong Pancho Pangandaman (N.) Panotes Paras Payuyo Plaza Primicias-Agabas Quisumbing Ramos Relampagos Rodriguez (M.) Rodriguez (R.) Roman Romualdez Romulo Sakaluran Salimbangon Sarmiento (C.) Socrates Suarez Sy-Alvarado Teves Tiangco Tieng Ting

Tinga Ty Velarde Velasco Violago

Negative:

Abad Aglipay Agyao Albano Alcala Angara Arquiza Bag-ao Baguilat Banal Barzaga Batocabe Bello Belmonte (F.) Biazon Binay Bondoc Bulut-Begtang Cajayon Calixto-Rubiano Canonigo Castelo Catamco Celeste Chipeco Cojuangco (E.) Cojuangco (K.) Collantes Colmenares Cruz-Gonzales De Jesus Defensor Dimaporo (I.) Duavit Ebdane Enverga Eriguel Espina Estrella Ferriol Flores Fuentes Garcia-Albano Garin (J.) Garin (S.) Gatchalian (R.) Gatchalian (W.) Go (A.C.) Go (A.) Gonzales (N.)


Guanlao Gunigundo Herrera-Dy Ilagan Joson Kho (D.) Lacson-Noel Lagdameo (M.) Lagman Leonen-Pizarro Limkaichong Magsaysay (E.) Marcoleta Mariano Mendoza (J.) Mendoza (M.) Ocampos Ortega (F.) Padilla Paez Palatino Palmones Ponce-Enrile Puno Quimbo Remulla Robes Sacdalan Sahidulla Sambar Sarmiento (M.) Sema Singson (E.) Tañada Teodoro Tinio Tomawis Treñas Tugna Tupas Umali (R.) Vargas-Alfonso Villar Villarica Yap (S.) Yu Zamora Zubiri

Abstention:

Apacible

With 92 Members voting in favor, 98 against and

one abstention, the appeal of Rep. Socrates from the ruling of the Chair was lost.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 664

ON HOUSE BILL NO. 4244 On motion of Rep. Gonzales (N.), there being no

objection, the Body resumed consideration on Second Reading of House Bill No. 4244, as contained in Committee Report No. 664 and submitted by the Committee on Population and Family Relations.


General read the title of the Bill, to wit: “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHEN-

SIVE POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE PAR-ENTHOOD, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, AND POPULATION AND DEVELOP-MENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”

Rep. Gonzales stated that the Bill was in the

period of individual amendments and on his further motion, the Chair recognized Rep. Edcel C. Lagman to sponsor the Bill.

POINT OF ORDER OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Recognized by the Chair, Rep. Garcia recalled

that when the Body last considered House Bill No. 4244, he filed an appeal right after the Chair had ruled that the Body had approved an amendment by substitution to the measure. He said that the motion to amend by substitution was in violation of Section 103 of the House Rules.

Then citing the book Rules of the House of

Representatives: Commented and Annotated by Dr. Inocencio B. Pareja, Rep. Garcia argued that amendment by substitution should come after individual amendments are disposed of. Also citing a ruling of the Chair in the Tenth Congress, he added that amendment by substitution may precede individual amendments only by unanimous consent.


With the permission of the Chair, Rep. Gonzales

explained that Section 39 of the House Rules which was the basis of his colleague’s argument in the November 26, 2012 session, was not applicable because it covered Committee Reports; and that Section 56 was what covered and allowed an individual amendment by substitution. He said that (1) sustaining the position of Rep. Garcia (P.) needed unanimous consent because the decision of the plenary was in accordance with Section 56; (2) his colleague’s appeal was already vacated because the records did not indicate any pending appeal.


REMARKS OF REP. GARCIA (P.) Rep. Garcia (P.) said that the Journal on said date

had documented his appeal and that the House should not violate its rules.

RULING OF THE CHAIR

At this point, the Chair opined that the appeal of

Rep. Garcia (P.) was akin to a motion for reconsideration of the decision of the plenary as provided for in Section 102 of the House Rules which he read. He ruled against the appeal, explaining that three session days had passed without a motion for reconsideration being filed on Rep. Gonzales’ (N.) motion to amend the RH Bill by substitution.


Rep. Garcia however clarified that his pending

motion was an appeal from the ruling of the Chair as provided for in Section 108 of the House Rules; and that it was submitted to the Body.


Rep. Gonzales reiterated that Rep. Garcia (P.)

should have filed his motion for reconsideration after the Body had approved the motion to approve the individual amendment by substitution. He also pointed out that the Chair had already made a ruling and that to allow the appeal would violate the Rules.

APPEAL OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Citing Section 108 of the Rules of the House,

Rep. Garcia stated that if a mere question of privilege has been the subject of an appeal for nominal voting, then his appeal strikes at the very heart of their proceedings.


With the permission of the Chair, Rep. Gonzales

stated that the motion of Rep. Garcia (P.) violates the Rules as it is in fact a motion for reconsideration in the guise of an appeal and as such, needs the unanimous consent of the Body. As he had objected to the appeal of Rep. Garcia, he said that a single objection would defeat the appeal because it will need a unanimous consent of the Body to sustain the same.

RULING OF THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled that the appeal of Rep. Garcia

(P.) was lost.

QUERY OF REP. GARCIA (P.) Rep. Garcia asked how his appeal was lost

considering that there was no voting on the matter. The Chair stated that based on the proposition of

Rep. Garcia (P.), the appeal needs a unanimous consent of the Body; but since there is an objection to the same, then unanimous consent cannot be obtained.

MOTION OF REP. GONZALES (N.)

Thereupon, Rep. Gonzales reiterated his motion

to recognize Rep. Lagman to respond to the individual amendments.

POINT OF ORDER OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia pointed out that the Body should

vote on his appeal. The Chair stated that he has already ruled on the

appeal of Rep. Garcia (P.) and reiterated that the appeal should be unanimously consented by the Body, but since Rep. Gonzales (N.) had objected to the same, the unanimous consent of the Body cannot be obtained.

Rep. Garcia asked who would rule on an appeal

from the ruling of the Chair considering that he had appealed the same.

POINT OF ORDER OF REP. MARCOLETA

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Marcoleta

pointed out that under the Rules, an appeal is subject to the five-minute rule and that Rep. Garcia (P.) had already consumed the same.


Rep. Garcia reiterated that the Body should vote

on his appeal considering that he already used up five minutes to explain the same.

With the permission of the Chair, Rep. Gonzales (N.) stated that the Chair had already ruled on the appeal of Rep. Garcia.

Rep. Garcia said that he was appealing from the ruling of the Chair.

The Chair reiterated that he has already ruled on

the matter based on the proposition of Rep. Garcia that there should be a unanimous consent of the Body, but since Rep. Gonzales (N.) had objected thereto, a unanimous consent cannot be obtained by the Body.


MOTION OF REP. GONZALES (N.) Thereupon, Rep. Gonzales moved for the

recognition of Rep. Lagman to respond to the individual amendments.

QUERY OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia inquired whether the Members were

trying to railroad the proceedings. Rep. Gonzales (N.) replied in the negative, and

stated that the Body should proceed with the individual amendments.

REMARKS OF REP. LAGMAN

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Lagman

stated that the Committee was ready to consider individual amendments.

POINT OF ORDER OF REP. MANDANAS

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Mandanas

pointed out that the Rules provide for a majority vote of the Members on any appeal and not a unanimous consent of the Body as previously ruled by the Chair.

The Chair stated however that he had already

ruled on the matter and that the Body should proceed to the period of individual amendments.

INDIVIDUAL AMENDMENTS

As previously moved by Rep. Gonzales (N.),

there being no objection, the Body considered individual amendments to House Bill No. 4244.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

OF REP. GARCIA (P.) Rep. Garcia proposed on page 2, line 1 after the

phrase “Sec. 2. - Declaration of Policy,” to insert the following phrase: THE STATE RECOGNIZES THE SANCTITY OF FAMILY LIFE AND SHALL PRO-TECT AND STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY AS A BASIC AUTONOMOUS SOCIAL INSTITUTION. IT SHALL EQUALLY PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER AND THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN FROM CONCEPTION.

Rep. Lagman stated that there was no need to

insert the aforementioned amendment considering that the Constitution already provides for the same.

Rep. Garcia pointed out however that it was to

restate said provision in the measure, this as he noted

that there are also repetitions of constitutional provisions in other laws like the Magna Carta for Women.

MANIFESTATION OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Rep. Rodriguez manifested his desire to propose an amendment to the proposed amendment of Rep. Garcia (P.).

The Chair stated that Rep. Rodriguez should

await first the response of the Sponsor to the proposal of Rep. Garcia (P.).

As to the proper procedure, Rep. Rodriguez

explained that if there is a further amendment to a proposed amendment, it is the first proponent who should decide whether or not to accept the amendment to his/her proposed amendment. He added that if the first proponent accepts the same, then that is the time for the Sponsor to decide on whether or not to accept the proposed amendment, as amended.


Upon a query from the Chair, Rep. Lagman

stated that the Committee would accept the proposition to include a constitutional provision in the Bill’s Declaration of Policy.

REMARKS OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.) Considering that the proposed amendment of

Rep. Garcia (P.) is derived from Article II of the Constitution, Rep. Rodriguez explained that his amendment to the proposed amendment will clearly specify what Article II provides.

REP. RODRIGUEZ’ (R.) AMENDMENT

TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Rep. Rodriguez proposed to amend Rep. Garcia’s (P.) amendment as follows: to insert the following phrase after the words “The State recognizes and guarantees the exercise of the universal basic human right”: AND PURSUANT TO THE DECLARATION OF STATE POLICIES, UNDER ARTICLE II, IT IS THE DUTY OF THE STATE TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY AS A BASIC AUTONOMOUS SOCIAL INSTITUTION AND EQUALLY PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER AND THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN FROM CONCEPTION.

Rep. Garcia accepted the same.


APPROVAL OF REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

AMENDMENT, AS AMENDED

As accepted by the Sponsor, there being no

objection, the Body approved Rep. Garcia’s amendment, as amended by Rep. Rodriguez (R.).

AMENDMENT OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia (P.) proposed on page 2, line 1 after

“Sec. 2. – Declaration of Policy,” to insert the follow-ing phrase: THE STATE RECOGNIZES THE FILI-PINO FAMILY AS THE FOUNDATION OF THE NATION. ACCORDINGLY, IT SHALL STRENGTHEN ITS SOLIDARITY AND AC-TIVELY PROMOTE ITS TOTAL DEVELOPMENT.

The Sponsor inquired whether the proposed

amendment is quoted from the Constitution. Rep. Garcia replied in the affirmative, stating

that the proposed amendment was quoted from Article XV, Section 1 of the Constitution.

Thereupon, the Sponsor accepted the proposed

amendment and there being no objection, the Body approved the same.

AMENDMENT OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.) Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Rodriguez

(R.) proposed to amend Rep. Garcia’s (P) amend-ment as follows: after the phrase “THE STATE RECOGNIZES THE FILIPINO FAMILY AS THE FOUNDATION OF THE NATION. ACCORD-INGLY, IT SHALL STRENGTHEN ITS SOLIDAR-ITY AND ACTIVELY PROMOTE ITS TOTAL DEVELOPMENT,” to insert the following: THE RIGHT OF SPOUSES TO FOUND A FAMILY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS AND THE DEMANDS OF RE-SPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD.

Rep. Garcia (P.) stated that the aforementioned amendment can be viewed independently of his two amendments which were previously accepted by the Sponsor.

As requested by Rep. Gonzales (N.), Rep. Rodriguez restated his amendment to the proposed amendment of Rep. Garcia and affirmed that it was a verbatim quote from Article XV of the Constitution.

As accepted by the Sponsor and, there being no objection, the Body approved the amendment.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia proposed on page 2, line 2, to delete

the word “universal,” arguing that the Declaration of Universal Human Rights does not include the right to reproductive health.

Rep. Lagman did not accept the proposed

amendment, stating that many international conven-tions, like the Tehran Convention of which the Phil-ippines is a signatory, recognize the right to repro-ductive health as a universal human right

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT Thereafter, the Body voted through viva voce on

the proposed amendment of Rep. Garcia (P.) to delete the word “universal,” and with the “nays” having preponderance, the proposed amendment was lost. MOTION OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia moved for a nominal voting. The Chair said that he heard it very clearly that

more Members voted against the proposed amend-ment.

Rep. Garcia however insisted on his motion.

ACCEPTANCE OF REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT To foreclose any further delay on the floor, Rep.

Lagman said that the Committee would accept Rep. Garcia’s (P.) proposal to delete the word “universal” on page 2, line 2 of Section 2.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia thereafter proposed an amendment

to the approved amendment on the deletion of the word “universal.”

The Chair stated that the Committee had already

agreed on said deletion and that there was nothing more on line 2 of Section 2 to amend.

MANIFESTATION OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.) Rep. Rodriguez manifested his intent to propose

an amendment which shall include a line on Section 2.


REMARKS OF REP. GONZALES (N.) Rep. Gonzales suggested that Rep. Rodriguez

(R.) propose an anterior amendment independent of Rep. Garcia’s (P.) amendments because the former’s amendment can stand alone.


The Chair thereupon asked Rep. Rodriguez (R.)

to allow Rep. Garcia (P.) first to pursue his proposed amendment on Section 2.

QUERY OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Rep. Rodriguez inquired whether Rep. Garcia

(P.) would propose an anterior amendment after the first sentence of Section 2.

Rep. Garcia replied in the affirmative

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

OF REP. GARCIA (P.) Rep. Garcia proposed on page 2, line 2 of Sec-

tion 2, to replace the phrase “persons, particularly of parents and women” with the phrase MARRIED COUPLES so as to flesh out the measure’s Declara-tion of Policy that the State recognizes the sanctity of family life and marriage as the foundation of the family. He noted that as worded, the Bill would rec-ognize and even legalize unmarried unions and im-moral relationships.

The Sponsor did not accept the proposed

amendment, contending that single individuals, in-cluding adolescents, and not only married couples, should enjoy reproductive rights. He added that the State admits common-law relationships and that there is no empirical evidence to support Rep. Garcia’s last statement.


After taking note of the Sponsor’s objection to

Rep. Garcia’s (P.) proposed amendment, the Chair stated that the Body would proceed to a division of the House, with a vote in favor of the amendment removing the phrase “all persons” and replacing it with the phrase MARRIED PERSONS, while a vote against it would mean rejecting the same.

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

The Chair thereafter called for a viva voce voting

on the proposed amendment of Rep. Garcia, and with the “nays” having preponderance, the same was lost.

MOTION OF REP. GARCIA (P.) Rep. Garcia moved for a nominal voting.

OBJECTION OF REP. ALBANO

Recognized by the Chair, Rep. Rodolfo B. Al-

bano objected to Rep. Garcia’s (P.) motion for a nominal voting as he noted that it should be preceded by a division of the House.

REMARKS OF REP. GARCIA (P.) Rep. Garcia asked that the Body observe the

Rules of the House on the one-fifth requirement to sustain a motion for nominal voting so as not to give the impression that the Members are railroading the approval of the measure.

OBJECTION OF REP. ALBANO (Continuation)

Rep. Albano maintained that the precedents in

the rulings of past Congresses form part of the Rules of the House, and that the Rules state that before the conduct of a nominal voting, there should first be a division of the House, and if the Body is not satisfied therewith, a count by tellers would follow.


In reaction, Rep. Garcia cited Section 115 of the Rules of the House on nominal voting.


At this point, the Chair restated Rep. Albano’s position that before the Body could proceed to a nominal voting, there is still a vote to be taken, sub-ject to the observance of the one-fifth requirement of the Rules of the House.


Rep. Garcia maintained that the Body could pro-ceed with the nominal voting if it could be deter-mined that one-fifth of the Members present would ask for the same.

The Chair noted that based on the previous count, 38 Members should agree to a nominal voting; but, Rep. Garcia claimed that the number may be less.


COUNT BY TELLERS ON REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

MOTION FOR NOMINAL VOTING

There being no objection, the Chair called for a count by tellers and designated anew Reps. Zamora, Sarmiento (M.), Binay and Baguilat to act as tellers.

Whereupon, the Chair noted that the one-fifth re-quirement had been satisfied so it was in order for the House to proceed to nominal voting.

NOMINAL VOTING ON REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Pursuant to Section 115, Rule XV of the Rules of the House, there being no objection, the Body pro-ceeded to a nominal voting on Rep. Garcia’s pro-posed amendment on page 2, line 2 of House Bill No. 4244, to replace the phrase “all persons, particu-larly of parents and women” with the phrase MAR-RIED COUPLES.

The Chair then directed the Secretary General to call the Roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second Roll Call was made.

EXPLANATIONS OF VOTE


1. Rep. Kaka J. Bag-ao voted “no” to the proposed amendment because the policy should benefit all persons and not just married couples.

2. Rep. Ma. Theresa B. Bonoan-David voted “yes,” stating that condoms should be given only to married couples.

3. In explaining her negative vote, Rep. Kimi S. Cojuangco cited a survey of the National Statistics Office (NSO) indicat-ing that majority of Filipino couples who are living together and have children are not married.

4. Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan voted against the proposed amendment and argued that the Body should not discriminate against unmarried couples.

5. Rep. Edcel C. Lagman appealed to his colleagues not to abuse the rule on nominal voting by using it as a strategy to delay the approval of the RH Bill. He voted “no” to the proposal as he ex-plained that international conventions and local laws dealing with reproductive health rights do not limit the coverage of such rights to married couples only. He underscored that doing so would violate the equal protection clause under the Constitution.

RESULT OF THE VOTING ON REP. GARCIA’S

(P.) PROPOSED AMENDMENT The result of the voting was as follows: Affirmative:

Abayon Acharon Acop Almonte Alvarez (A.) Apostol Aquino Arenas Arnaiz Arroyo (D.) Aumentado Bagasina Bagatsing Bonoan-David Cabaluna Calimbas-Villarosa Cari Castro Collantes Cua De Venecia Del Mar Dimaporo (F.) Dimaporo (I.) Enverga Fortuno Garbin Garcia (A.) Garcia (P.) Garcia (P.J.) Golez (R.) Gonzales (A.) Gullas Labadlabad Lico Magsaysay (M.) Mandanas


Mellana Mendoza (J.) Mendoza (M.) Mercado-Revilla Nava Nograles Obillo Olivarez Palmones Pangandaman (N.) Paras Payuyo Piamonte Plaza Primicias-Agabas Puno Ramos Relampagos Robes Rodriguez (M.) Rodriguez (R.) Romualdez Salimbangon Sarmiento (C.) Singson (R.L.) Socrates Suarez Teodoro Teves Tieng Ting Ty Vargas-Alfonso Velarde Velasco Violago Negative:

Abad Aglipay Agyao Albano Almario Angara Antonino Apacible Arquiza Asilo Bag-ao Banal Barzaga Bello Belmonte (F.) Bernos Biazon Binay Bondoc

Bulut-Begtang Cabilao Yambao Calixto-Rubiano Catamco Chipeco Climaco Cojuangco (E.) Cojuangco (K.) Colmenares Cortuna Cosalan Cruz-Gonzales De Jesus Duavit Ebdane Eriguel Espina Estrella Ferriol Flores Fuentes Garcia-Albano Garin (J.) Garin (S.) Gatchalian (R.) Gatchalian (W.) Go (A.C.) Go (A.) Gonzales (N.) Gonzalez Herrera-Dy Ledesma Ilagan Jalosjos (R.) Joson Kho (D.) Lacson-Noel Lagdameo (M.) Lagman Leonen-Pizarro Limkaichong Lopez (C.) Magsaysay (E.) Marcoleta Mariano Mirasol Noel Ocampos Ong Ortega (F.) Palatino Ponce-Enrile Quimbo Remulla Romulo Sacdalan Sahidulla Sambar


Sarmiento (M.) Sema Singson (E.) Sy-Alvarado Tañada Tiangco Tinio Treñas Tugna Tupas Villar Villarica Yap (S.) Yu Zamora Zubiri Abstention:

None

With 73 Members voting in the affirmative, 93 negative and no abstention, the Body disapproved the proposed amendment of Rep. Garcia (P.).

SUSPENSION OF CONSIDERATION

OF HOUSE BILL NO. 4244 On motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there being no ob-

jection, the Body suspended further consideration on Second Reading of House Bill No. 4244.

DESIGNATION OF CONFEREES TO THE

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HOUSE

BILL NO. 4241 AND SENATE BILL NO. 1198

On motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there being no ob-

jection, the Body designated the following as House conferees to the Conference Committee to reconcile

the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 4241 and Senate Bill No. 1198, providing for early voting for members of the media: Reps. Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr., Marcelino “Marcy” R. Teodoro, Teddy A. Casiño, Neri J. Colmenares, Romero Federico “Miro” S. Quimbo, Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III for the Majority, and Simeon A. Datumanong for the Minor-ity.

DESIGNATION OF CONFEREES TO THE

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HOUSE

BILL NO. 5509 AND SENATE BILL NO. 3287 On motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there being no ob-

jection, the Body designated the following as House conferees to the Conference Committee to reconcile the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 5509 and Senate Bill No. 3287, providing for highly acces-sible polling places for persons with disabilities, sen-ior citizens and expectant mothers: Reps. Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr., Godofredo V. Arquiza, Neri J. Col-menares, Antonio L. Tinio, Victor F. Ortega, Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay for the Majority, and Maria Mi-lagros “Mitos” H. Magsaysay for the Minority.



jection, the Chair suspended the session until four o’clock in the afternoon of Tuesday, December 4, 2012.

It was 9:52 p.m., Monday, December 3, 2012.

30 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012


The session resumed at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday,

December 4, 2012, with Representative Jorge “Bo-let” Banal presiding.


At 4:00 p.m., the Chair motu proprio suspended

the session.


The session resumed at 4:28 p.m., with Deputy

Speaker Lorenzo R. Tañada III presiding.


Thereupon, Rep. Banal acknowledged the pres-

ence in the Session Hall of guests of Reps. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, Mariano Michael M. Velarde Jr., Irwin C. Tieng, Rufus B. Rodriguez, Benjo A. Benaldo, Peter “Sr. Pedro” M. Unabia, Yevgeny Vin-cente B. Emano, Kaka J. Bag-ao, Walden F. Bello, Kimi S. Cojuangco, Bernadette R. Herrera-Dy, and Angelo B. Palmones.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE OF BUSINESS

On motion of Rep. Banal, there being no objec-

tion, the Body proceeded to the Additional Reference of Business.

Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary Gen-

eral read on First Reading the titles of the following Bills and Resolutions, including the Committee Re-ports, which were referred to the appropriate Com-mittees as hereunder indicated:

BILLS ON FIRST READING


“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MECHANISM IN THE ALLOCATION OF THE MORE THAN P84 BILLION WORTH OF THE CIIF COMPANIES, THE FOURTEEN (14) HOLDING COMPANIES AND THE CIIF BLOCK OF SAN MIGUEL CORPORA-TION (SMC) SHARES ADJUDGED BY THE SUPREME COURT TO BE OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

By Representative Aumentado

TO THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD


“AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZEN-SHIP TO WASSIM NANAA”

By Representative Bichara



“AN ACT INSTITUTING A FORMER PRIS-ONERS' EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERE-FOR”

By Representatives Arroyo and Macapagal-Arroyo (G.)

TO THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EM-PLOYMENT


“AN ACT EXTENDING THE CORPORATE LIFE OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAYS (P.N.R.) BY ANOTHER TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 741, AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4156, ENTITLED 'AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAYS, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNC-TIONS, AND DUTIES AND PROVIDING FOR THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR ITS OPERATION, AS AMENDED BY REPUB-LIC ACT NO. 6366' ”


TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATIZATION


“AN ACT TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE STANDARD OF PROTECTION AND EN-HANCEMENT OF THE WELFARE OF SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS AND CRAFTSMEN AND THE PROMOTION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP THEREBY

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012 31

AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE, SEC-TION 8 OF REPUBLIC ACT 8282 OTH-ERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOCIAL SE-CURITY ACT OF 1997”


TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATIZATION


“AN ACT CREATING PROGRAMS FOR IN-CARCERATED MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN”




“AN ACT MANDATING THE USE OF SUR-VEILLANCE CAMERAS FOR THE SE-CURITY AND SAFETY OF COMMER-CIAL ESTABLISHMENTS”


TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY


“AN ACT MANDATING MILK FEEDING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”


TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCA-TION AND CULTURE


“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CON-STRUCTION OF A DIVERSION ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SISON, PROV-INCE OF PANGASINAN TO BE KNOWN AS THE SISON DIVERSION ROAD, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE”


TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

RESOLUTIONS


“A RESOLUTION SEEKING AN IMMEDIATE HOUSE INQUIRY/ INVESTIGATION INTO THE REPEATED VIOLATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 79 AND R. A. 7076 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE'S SMALL SCALE MINING ACT IN VIEW OF THE UNNECESSARY DEATH OF TEN (10) PERSONS AT BRGY. PALANAS, PARACALE, CAMARINES NORTE WHEREIN AN ILLEGAL AND WANTON MINING OPERATION HAS BEEN GOING ON”

By Representative Unico



“RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS (DPWH) TO CONSTRUCT AN UNDER-PASS ALONG ESPAÑA – GOVERNOR FORBES STREET, SAMPALOC, MA-NILA”

By Representative Bonoan-David



“RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS (DPWH) TO CONSTRUCT FLOOD DE-TENTION STRUCTURES ALONG BLU-MENTRITT STREET, SAMPALOC TO DETER PERENNIAL FLOODING IN DIS-TRICT IV”





“RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS (DPWH) TO CONSTRUCT FLOOD DE-TENTION STRUCTURES ALONG BALIC-BALIC AREA, PARTICULARLY IN MINDANAO AVENUE, LUZON AVE-NUE, DOMINGO SANTIAGO STREET, ROSARITO STREET AND BOHOL AVE-NUE, SAMPALOC TO DETER PEREN-NIAL FLOODING IN DISTRICT IV”




“A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COM-MITTEE ON COOPERATIVE TO CON-DUCT AN INQUIRY IN AID OF LEGIS-LATION ON THE EFFECTS TO COOP-ERATIVES IN VISAYAS AND MIN-DANAO ON THE OPERATION OF AMAN FUTURES AND OTHER PONZI SCAM WITH THE PURPOSE OF INSTITUTING MEASURES THAT PROTECT THE CO-OPERATIVES AND THEIR MEMBERS”

By Representative Lico



“A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COM-MITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND THE BUREAU OF INVESTMENTS TO INVES-TIGATE IN AID OF LEGISLATION ON THE ALLEGED GRANTING BY GOV-ERNMENT TO A THAI COMPANY TO REGISTER A P2.32 BILLION INTE-GRATED PRODUCTION PROJECT IN THE COUNTRY WITH ALL THE PERKS AND INCENTIVES FROM THE NA-TIONAL GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL RESULT TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE HOG AND POULTRY INDUSTRY OF THE COUNTRY”

By Representative Lico



“A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE COM-MITTEE ON FOOD SECURITY OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ON THE REPORTED GRANT OF INCENTIVES TO A FOREIGN CORPORATION, HOW THIS AFFECTS LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, AND ITS IMPACT TO DOMESTIC FOOD PRODUCTION”

By Representative Palmones




Members were made coauthors of the Bills and Reso-lution hereunder indicated:

Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas for House Bills No. 1280

and 6079; Rep. Wes T. Gatchalian for House Bill No. 1797; Rep. Mary Mitzi L. Cajayon for House Bill No.

3858; Rep. Angelo B. Palmones for House Bills No.

4446, 6462, 6652 and 6693; Rep. Reena Concepcion G. Obillo for House Bill

No. 5837;

Reps. Luzviminda C. Ilagan, Rafael V. Mariano

and Raymond V. Palatino for House Bill No. 6079; Rep. Edwin L. Olivarez for House Bill No. 6214; Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla for House Bills No.

6690, 6691 and 6692; Rep. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza for House Bill

No. 6724; and Rep. Anthony Rolando T. Golez Jr. for House

Resolution No. 37.

WITHDRAWAL OF COAUTHORSHIP

Rep. Daryl Grace J. Abayon for House Bills No.

162 and 4591.


COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report by the Committee on Basic Education and Culture (Committee Report No. 2482), re H. No. 6727, entitled:

“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF SAN MANUEL NORTE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF AGOO, PROVINCE OF LA UNION TO DR. MANUEL T. CASES, SR. MEMORIAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL”

recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill No. 6382

Sponsors: Representatives Ocampo and Eriguel



“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF SAN MANUEL NORTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF AGOO, PROVINCE OF LA UNION TO DR. MANUEL T. CASES, SR. ELEMEN-TARY SCHOOL”





“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF BAY-BAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BARANGAY SAN MANUEL SUR, MU-NICIPALITY OF AGOO, PROVINCE OF LA UNION TO SAN MANUEL SUR ELE-MENTARY SCHOOL”




Report by the Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Re-lations and Diplomacy (Committee Report No. 2485), re H. R. No. 2825, entitled:

“A RESOLUTION ORGANIZING THE PHIL-IPPINES – MYANMAR PARLIAMEN-TARIANS, FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION”

recommending its adoption without amendment

Sponsor: Representative Ortega (V.)


Report by the Committee on Public Works and Highways (Committee Report No. 2486), re H. No. 6731, entitled:

“AN ACT CONVERTING THE CAPUL CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROAD IN THE FIRST DISTRICT, PROVINCE OF NORTHERN SAMAR, INTO A NATIONAL ROAD”


Sponsors: Representatives Cosalan and Daza


Report by the Special Committee on Bases Conver-sion (Committee Report No. 2487), re H. R. No. 734, entitled:

“RESOLUTION URGING THE COMMITTEE ON GOOD GOVERNMENT TO INVESTI-GATE THE GLOBAL CITY DEAL, PAR-TICULARLY THE JOINT-VENTURE DE-VELOPMENT AGREEMENT ENTERED TO BY AND BETWEEN THE BASES CONVERSION DEVELOPMENT AU-THORITY (BCDA), AND THE MEGA-WORLD CONSORTIUM”

and H. R. No. 1505

“RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN INVES-TIGATION IN AID OF LEGISLATION REGARDING THE JOINT VENTURE BE-TWEEN THE NATIONAL POLICE COM-MISSION AND BASES CONVERSION DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON ONE HAND AND A CONSORTIUM LED BY MEGAWORLD ON THE OTHER”

informing the House of its findings and recom-mendations


Sponsors: Representatives Agyao, Kho (D.), Tinga and Lagdameo (M.)


Report by the Committee on Health (Committee Re-port No. 2488), re H. No. 5200, entitled:

“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TWENTY FIVE (25)-BED HOSPITAL IN THE MUNICI-PALITY OF CORDOVA, PROVINCE OF CEBU, TO BE KNOWN AS CORDOVA PUBLIC HOSPITAL, AND APPROPRIAT-ING FUNDS THEREFOR”

recommending its approval with amendments

Sponsors: Representatives Marañon and Qui-sumbing



“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTAB-LISHMENT OF A BARANGAY HEALTH CENTER IN BARANGAY DANGTALAN, MUNICIPALITY OF PASIL, PROVINCE OF KALINGA AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


Sponsors: Representatives Marañon and Agyao



“AN ACT CREATING THE BIKOL CUL-TURAL CENTER, DEFINING ITS OB-JECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”


Sponsors: Representatives Ocampo and Villa-fuerte



“AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHIL-

IPPINE NATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH SYSTEM”

recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill Nos. 564, 2615, 4207, 4412 and 4855

Sponsors: Representatives Marañon, Angara, Abaya, Palmones, Mercado-Revilla, Rodri-guez (R.), Acop, Ting, Ramos, Pichay, Eriguel, Lagdameo (M.), Rodriguez (M.), Calixto-Rubiano, Fuentes, Quimbo, Salim-bangon, Roman, Golez (A.), Cajayon, Vil-larica, Alcala, Yap (S.), Zamora-Apsay, Lapus, Herrera-Dy, Garbin, Co and Batocabe


Report by the Committee on Civil Service and Pro-fessional Regulation and the Committee on Ap-propriations (Committee Report No. 2492), re H. No. 6736, entitled:

“AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF CRIMINOLOGY PROFESSION IN THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 6506, OTH-ERWISE KNOWN AS 'AN ACT CREAT-ING THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR CRIMINOLOGISTS IN THE PHILIP-PINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PUR-POSES' ”


Sponsors: Representatives Salvacion, Abaya, Rodriguez (R.) and Rodriguez (M.)



The session was suspended at 4:33 p.m., upon

motion of Rep. Banal.


The session resumed at 4:40 p.m., with Rep.

Janette L. Garin presiding.

APPROVAL ON SECOND READING

OF HOUSE BILL NO. 6713

On successive motions of Rep. Banal, there be-


ing no objection, the Body considered on Second Reading House Bill No. 6713 calendared under the Business for the Day, as contained in Committee Re-port No. 2481 submitted by the Committee on Peo-ple’s Participation, strengthening nation-building through the institutionalization of a strategic volun-teerism based multisectoral public-private partner-ship framework in all local government units and congressional districts in the country; dispensed with the reading of the text thereof without prejudice to its insertion into the Record of the House; adopted the Explanatory Note as the sponsorship remarks on the measure; terminated the period of sponsorship and debate; terminated the period of amendments in the absence of Committee and individual amendments; and approved the same on Second Reading through viva voce voting.

ADOPTION OF

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2756


ing no objection, the Body considered House Resolu-tion No. 2756, entitled, “RESOLUTION COM-MENDING THE CEBU NORMAL UNIVERSITY FOR TOPPING THE JUNE 30-JULY 1, 2012 NURSE LICENSURE EXAMINATION WITH ITS 100 PERCENT PASSING RATE AND GARNER-ING TWELVE BOARD EXAM TOPNOTCHERS,” as embodied in Committee Report No. 2480 and submitted by the Committee on Higher and Technical Education,; dispensed with the reading of the text thereof without prejudice to its insertion into the Re-cord of the House; and unanimously adopted the same.




ing no objection, the Body considered on Second Reading House Bill No. 6417 calendared under the Business for Thursday and Friday, as contained in Committee Report No. 2479 and submitted by the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, changing the name of Alcantara National Trade School to Romblon National Institute of Technology; dispensed with the reading of the text thereof without prejudice to its insertion into the Record of the House; adopted the Explanatory Note as the sponsor-ship remarks on the measure; terminated the period of sponsorship and debate; terminated the period of amendments in the absence of Committee and indi-vidual amendments; and approved the same on Sec-ond Reading through viva voce voting.


Rep. Banal acknowledged the presence in the

Session Hall of guests of Reps. Tieng, Velarde, Her-milando I. Mandanas and Amado S. Bagatsing, as well as guests from different Catholic dioceses and prolife groups and from the Office of the Makati City Vice Mayor.


The session was suspended at 4:46 p.m., on mo-

tion of Rep. Banal.



Speaker Tañada presiding.



ON HOUSE BILL NO. 6565

On motion of Rep. Banal, there being no objec-

tion, the Body resumed consideration on Second Reading of House Bill No. 6565, as contained in Committee Report No. 2434 and submitted by the Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries.

Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary Gen-

eral read the title of the Bill, to wit: “AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAW, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE RE-PUBLIC ACT NO. 9160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘ANTI-MONEY LAUN-DERING ACT OF 2001,’ AS AMENDED.”

Rep. Banal stated that the Bill was in the period of sponsorship and debate, and on his motion, the Chair recognized Rep. Sergio F. Apostol to defend the measure, and Minority Leader Danilo E. Suarez to interpellate thereon.


The Chair motu proprio suspended the session at

4:49 p.m.




INTERPELLATION OF REP. SUAREZ

The Members’ discussion focused on the admin-

istrative and criminal sanctions imposed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) upon any cov-ered institution for violation of the AMLA; the rele-vance of the Bill, given the fact that the Philippines has already substantially complied with the require-ments of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF); and the possibility that the country’s imposition of restrictive measures might not be investor-friendly.

INTERPELLATION OF REP. BAGATSING

Recognized by the Chair, Rep. Amado S.

Bagatsing as chairman of the House Committee on Games and Amusements relayed the anxiety and fear of the gaming industry, and inquired whether China, including Macau, belongs to the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), to which Rep. Apostol replied in the affirmative.

The Members then exchanged views on the con-

cerns of Rep. Bagatsing that 1) China just went through the motions in following the anti-money laundering requirements of the FATF, 2) the AMLA requirement is just a strategy of the so-called G7 countries to further strengthen their rich economies and exploit small and weak countries like the Philip-pines, 3) it is an administrative nightmare for the ca-sinos to report on the transactions of their players and customers, and 4) it is enough for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to regulate and monitor the activi-ties of the casinos.

MOTION TO TERMINATE THE PERIOD

OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE

There being no further interpellations and no speeches against the Bill, Rep. Garin (J.) moved to terminate the period of sponsorship and debate on House Bill No. 6565.


The session was suspended at 5:13 p.m., upon motion of Rep. Garin (J.).



TERMINATION OF THE PERIOD

OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE

On a previous motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there

being no objection, the Body terminated the period of

sponsorship and debate on House Bill No. 6565 and thereafter, proceeded to the period of amendments.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

As proposed by Rep. Apostol, there being no ob-

jection, the Body approved the following Committee amendments:

On page 1, Section 1, to delete item no. 4, to wit:

“(4) CASINOS, INCLUDING INTERNET CASI-NOS; REAL ESTATE AGENTS”; and

On page 2, item no. 9, to delete the words “(1)

BUYING AND SELLING OF REAL ESTATE.”

AMENDMENT OF REP. SUAREZ

As proposed by Rep. Suarez and accepted by the

Sponsor, there being no objection, the Body approved on page 1, line 20, to delete the phrase “DEALERS IN PRECIOUS METALS”.

QUERY OF REP. SUAREZ

To a query of Rep. Suarez, Rep. Apostol replied

that the schedule of the suspicious transaction reporting or STR is 15 days.


On motion of Rep. Garin (J.), the Chair

suspended the session at 5:28 p.m.



SUSPENSION OF CONSIDERATION OF

HOUSE BILL NO. 6565


jection, the Body suspended the consideration on Second Reading of House Bill No. 6565.

CONCURRENCE WITH

SENATE AMENDMENTS

TO HOUSE BILL NO. 5739

With the consent of the Committee on Justice

and Rep. Evelyn P. Mellana, main author of the Bill, on motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there being no objec-tion, the Body concurred with the Senate amend-ments to House Bill No. 5739, creating two addi-tional regional trial court branches in the Municipali-ties of Trento and San Francisco in Agusan del Sur.







RESUMPTION OF CONSIDERATION



jection, the Body resumed consideration on Second Reading of House Bill No. 6565, as contained in Committee Report No. 2434 and submitted by the Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, entitled:

“AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAW, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE RE-PUBLIC ACT NO. 9160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘ANTI-MONEY LAUN-DERING ACT OF 2001,’ AS AMENDED.”

As to the parliamentary status of the Bill, Rep.

Garin said that it was still in the period of amend-ments but she had already conferred with Deputy Speaker Pablo P. Garcia who had acceded to the re-quest of several colleagues.

TERMINATION OF THE PERIOD

OF AMENDMENTS

There being no further Committee and individual

amendments, on motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there be-ing no objection, the Body terminated the period of amendments on the measure.


OF HOUSE BILL NO. 6565, AS AMENDED


jection, the Body approved on Second Reading House Bill No. 6565, as amended.


On motion of Rep. Garin (J.), the Chair sus-

pended the session at 5:39 p.m.



RATIFICATION OF CONFERENCE

COMMITTEE REPORT ON HOUSE BILL

NO. 6339 AND SENATE BILL NO. 2625


jection, the Body considered and subsequently rati-fied through viva voce voting the Conference Com-mittee Report on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 6339 and Senate Bill No. 2625, expanding the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.


The Chair suspended the session at 5:54 p.m., on

motion of Rep. Garin (J.).



ROLL CALL

Thereupon, on motion of Rep. Garin (J.), the

Body proceeded to the Roll Call. Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary


Abad Abayon Acharon Acop Aggabao Aglipay Agyao Albano Almario Almonte Alvarez (A.) Amatong Angara Angping Apacible Apostol Aquino Arago Arenas Arnaiz Arroyo Aumentado Bag-ao Bagasina Bagatsing Baguilat Banal


Barzaga Bataoil Batocabe Bello Belmonte (F.) Belmonte (V.) Bernos Bichara Binay Bulut-Begtang Cabaluna Cabilao Yambao Calimbas-Villarosa Calixto-Rubiano Canonigo Cari Castelo Castro Catamco Celeste Cerilles Climaco Cojuangco (E.) Cojuangco (K.) Cortuna Cosalan Cruz-Gonzales Cua Dalog Daza De Jesus De Venecia Defensor Del Mar Del Rosario (A. A.) Del Rosario (A. G.) Dimaporo (F.) Dimaporo (I.) Dy Ebdane Ejercito Enverga Eriguel Ferrer (A.) Ferriol Flores Fortuno Fuentebella Fuentes Garay Garbin Garcia (A.) Garcia (P.) Garcia (P.J.) Garcia-Albano Garin (J.) Garin (S.) Gatchalian (R.)

Gatchalian (W.) Go (A.) Golez (R.) Gomez Gonzales (N.) Gonzalez Guanlao Gullas Gunigundo Haresco Herrera-Dy Ilagan Jalosjos (C.) Jalosjos (R.) Jalosjos (S.) Javier Joson Kho (D.) Labadlabad Lacson-Noel Lagdameo (M.) Lagman Lanete Leonen-Pizarro Lico Limkaichong Lopez (C.) Lopez (C.J.) Loyola Macapagal-Arroyo (J.) Madrona Magsaysay (M.) Malapitan Mandanas Maranan Marcoleta Marcos Mariano Matugas Mellana Mendoza (J.) Mendoza (M.) Mendoza (R.) Mercado (R.) Mercado-Revilla Miraflores Mirasol Montejo Nava Noel Nograles Obillo Ocampos Ortega (F.) Osmeña Padilla Paez Palatino


Palmones Pancho Pangandaman (N.) Panotes Paras Payuyo Pichay Quimbo Quisumbing Ramos Relampagos Remulla Rivera Rodriguez (M.) Rodriguez (R.) Roman Romualdez Romulo Sacdalan Sahidulla Sakaluran Salimbangon Sambar Sarmiento (C.) Sarmiento (M.) Sema Singson (E.) Socrates Suarez Sy-Alvarado Tañada Teodoro Teves Tiangco Tieng Ting Tinio Tomawis Treñas Tugna Unabia Ungab Valencia Vargas-Alfonso Velarde Velasco Villafuerte Villar Villarica Violago Yap (S.) Yu Zamora Zubiri

With 197 Members present, the Chair declared

the presence of a quorum. (See also Appendix 1)





jection, the Body resumed consideration on Second Reading of House Bill No. 4244, as contained in Committee Report No. 664 and submitted by the Committee on Population and Family Relations.

Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary General read the title of the Bill, to wit:

“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHEN-

SIVE POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE PAR-ENTHOOD, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, AND POPULATION AND DEVELOP-MENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”

Rep. Garin stated that the Bill was in the period

of individual amendments, and then moved for the Chair to recognize Rep. Edcel C. Lagman to sponsor the measure, and Deputy Speaker Garcia (P.) to continue proposing his amendments.

At this point however, the Chair recognized Rep. Bagatsing on a point of order.

POINT OF ORDER OF REP. BAGATSING

Rep. Bagatsing referred to Section 78 of the

Rules of the House on the “Approval of Journal,” and noted the absence of the document on his desk. He said that the Body should follow its Rules and asked how the Members could participate intelligently on the floor without a copy of the previous day’s Jour-nal.

Rep. Garin (J.) clarified that the session was merely suspended the previous day so that no copies of the Journal were prepared.

Rep. Bagatsing inquired whether no copy of the Journal would be distributed to the Members in the event the sessions would be suspended for seven days.


With the permission of the Chair, Majority

Leader Neptali M. Gonzales II explained that no Journal was prepared and no copies were distributed to the Members because the sessions held the previ-ous day and that day were considered one session day only. He maintained that should the Body ad-journ the session the following day, only then will the Journal be prepared with the copies thereof to be dis-tributed on Monday, December 10, 2012 for plenary approval.


POINT OF ORDER OF REP. BAGATSING

(Continuation)

Rep. Bagatsing said that he was late the previous day and thereafter requested the Secretary General to read the previous day’s entire proceedings, pursuant to Section 78 of the Rules of the House.

Rep. Gonzales (N.) replied that Rep. Bagatsing

has to await the adjournment of session.

Rep. Bagatsing stated that something similar happened in the Senate wherein the Secretary of the Senate, in the absence of a hard copy of the Journal, had to read the Journal of the previous session. He pointed out that this was an established precedent.

Rep. Gonzales maintained that the Rules of the House provide that 1) the Journal shall be read in full, unless copies have been distributed to the Members, and 2) copies of the Journal would be distributed only upon adjournment of the session.

RULING OF THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled that Rep. Bagatsing’s point of order was not well taken and that the Body would proceed with the deliberation of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.

REP. BAGATSING’S APPEAL

FROM THE RULING OF THE CHAIR

Rep. Bagatsing appealed from the ruling of the Chair as he was merely citing a parliamentary procedure approved by the House.


Rep. Gonzales stated in Filipino that the Journal

of the previous day’s session would only be read if no copies had been distributed to the Members. He reiterated that the Journal of the House is prepared only upon adjournment of the session which cannot be done the previous day because the session was merely suspended. OBJECTION OF REP. GONZALES (N.)

Rep. Gonzales then objected to Rep. Bagatsing’s

appeal from the ruling of the Chair on the ground that the House Rules are clear on the matter. He opined that Rep. Bagatsing was the one violating the Rules if he would insist in pursuing his appeal. POINT OF ORDER OF REP. BAGATSING

(Continuation)

Rep. Bagatsing pointed out that he was not

violating any Rule because he just read the provision of Section 100 thereof which defines a point of order. RESTATEMENT OF THE

RULING OF THE CHAIR

The Chair restated his previous ruling that the point of order was not well taken, stating that the Journal of the previous session was not prepared yet because the session was not adjourned but merely suspended. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Rufus B.

Rodriguez inquired when and how he could get a copy of the transcripts of stenographic notes (TSNs) of the previous day’s plenary proceedings. He said that his chief of staff was refused twice that morning when he requested, on behalf of Rep. Rodriguez, for a copy of the TSNs. He stressed that he just wanted to identify the Members who voted for and against the appeal of Rep. Victorino Dennis M. Socrates from the ruling of the Chair denying him of his right to speak on a question of personal and collective privilege. POINT OF ORDER OF REP. COJUANGCO (K.)

The Chair then recognized Rep. Kimi S.

Cojuangco who pointed out that the issue regarding the Journal of the House could be resolved on a sidebar given that the Members have been waiting for so many days to consider the RH Bill. REMARKS OF REP. GONZALES (N.)

In reply to Rep. Rodriguez’ (R.) parliamentary

inquiry, Rep. Gonzales said the Secretary General had clarified that the former’s chief of staff was not refused but simply asked to wait for his request to be served because the TSNs were still being prepared. He assured Rep. Rodriguez that he will be furnished a copy of the TSNs, as it is the right of every Member to secure copies thereof. He also stated that the result of the voting on Rep. Socrates’ appeal from the ruling of the Chair will be included in the Journal. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY


(Continuation)

To a related inquiry of Rep. Rodriguez, Rep. Gonzales said that the TSNs for the previous day’s session were already available but a formal letter-request has to be submitted to the Secretary General.


Rep. Rodriguez noted that no such procedure was ever mentioned to his chief of staff and that the reason given for the refusal to release a copy of the TSNs was the need to secure first a clearance from the Majority Leader.

POINT OF ORDER OF REP. MARCOLETA

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Rodante D.

Marcoleta pointed out that the Rules of the House provide that a Member raising a parliamentary inquiry is not supposed to argue with the Chair. REMARKS OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

When asked by the Chair to wind up with his

inquiry, Rep. Rodriguez remarked that he will write a letter requesting for a copy of the TSNs of the previous day’s proceedings. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

OF REP. MAGSAYSAY (M.)

Recognized by the Chair, Rep. Maria Milagros

“Mitos” H. Magsaysay posed a parliamentary inquiry, to which the Chair replied that 187 Members responded when the Roll was called in order to decide on the appeal of Rep. Socrates the previous day. PERIOD OF AMENDMENTS


The Body subsequently proceeded to the period of amendments on the RH Bill, and the Chair recognized Rep. Lagman to defend the measure and Deputy Speaker Garcia (P.) for his proposed amendments. PROPOSED AMENDMENT

OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia proposed on page 2, line 4, after the

word “parenthood,” to delete the period (.) and in lieu thereof, to insert the following phrase: AND THE STATE SHALL REFRAIN FROM TAKING ANY ACTION OR MISSION THAT WILL TEMPT OR TEND TO MAKE ANY WOMAN OR COUPLE TO VIOLATE THE TENETS OR TEACHINGS OF THEIR RELIGION.

The Sponsor stated that the amendment cannot accept the proposed amendments.

Rep. Garcia defended his proposal by stating that it merely seeks to amplify the right of couples “…to reproductive health… consistent with their religious convictions, cultural beliefs and the demands of

responsible parenthood” which is provided for in the Bill’s Declaration of Policy. He added that the State should not take any measure or action that would tempt women to violate the tenets of their religion. He also cited the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Estrada vs. Escritor requiring the State to treat religion with benevolent neutrality and accommodation and opined that the RH Bill contradicts the decision because it seeks to promote and distribute free contraceptives and other artificial birth control devices.

In rejecting Rep. Garcia’s proposal, Rep. Lagman noted that the only purpose of the proposed amendment is to prohibit the State from promoting legal, medically safe and effective reproductive healthcare services and commodities. He pointed out that the Bill contains many safeguards to protect the individual conscience and religious freedom and beliefs of couples, women and other persons. REMARKS OF REP. GONZALES (N.)

At this point, Rep. Gonzales informed the Members that they were about to vote on the proposed amendment of Rep. Garcia (P.) which the Sponsor had rejected. He said that an “aye” vote approves the proposed amendment while a “nay” vote defeats the same. VIVA VOCE VOTING

ON REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

The Chair thereafter called for a viva voce voting on the proposed amendment of Rep. Garcia, and with the “nays” having preponderance, the same was lost.

MOTION OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia moved for a division of the House

because he doubted the result of the voting.

The Chair reminded Rep. Garcia that the House was already divided but the latter insisted that a nominal voting be conducted to determine the actual number of votes. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

OF REP. MARCOLETA

Recognized by the Chair, Rep. Marcoleta asked

why a nominal voting was needed considering that the Body had already voted and it was obvious that the “nay” votes had won. He stated that Section 114 of the Rules of the House provides the proper voting procedures in the House while Section 115 provides that nominal voting is only optional and not mandatory.


When the Chair replied that he did not doubt the result of the viva voce voting, Rep. Marcoleta then asked for a ruling of the Chair on why the Body should proceed with a nominal voting. REMARKS OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia pointed out that the right to demand

for a nominal voting is provided in the Constitution and that 20 percent of the Members present may request for such voting. REMARKS OF REP. GONZALES (N.)

At this point, Rep. Gonzales stated that per the

Secretary General, one-fifth of the 202 Members present which were needed to sustain the motion for nominal voting was equivalent to 41 Members. COUNT BY TELLERS ON REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

MOTION FOR NOMINAL VOTING

There being no objection, the Chair called for a

count by tellers and on motion of Rep. Gonzales (N.), designated Reps. Jose F. Zubiri III, Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay, and Teddy Brawner Baguilat to act as tellers.

Reps. Zubiri, Sarmiento and Binay respectively

reported that nine, 26 and seven Members had risen in favor of the motion for nominal voting. With 42 Members sustaining the said motion, the Chair noted that the one-fifth requirement had been satisfied.

NOMINAL VOTING ON REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Pursuant to Section 115, Rule XV of the Rules of

the House, at the request of 42 Members and on a previous motion of Rep. Garcia (P.), there being no objection, the Body proceeded to the nominal voting on Rep. Garcia’s proposed amendment on page 2, line 4, after the word “parenthood,” to delete the period (.) and in lieu thereof, to insert the following phrase: AND THE STATE SHALL REFRAIN FROM TAKING ANY ACTION OR MISSION THAT WILL TEMPT OR TEND TO MAKE ANY WOMAN OR COUPLE TO VIOLATE THE TENETS OR TEACHINGS OF THEIR RELIGION.





1. Rep. Henedina A. Abad voted “no” because the Bill already contains the proposed amendment of Rep. Garcia (P.). She added that she cannot allow the State to please Church members.

2. Rep. Kaka J. Bag-ao voted “no” for the rea-

son that the RH Bill recognizes the principle of the separation of the Church and the State as it forces no one to use reproductive health devices or services that would be against the person’s religious conviction. However, she said that it is the responsibility of the State, through Congress as its policymaking body, to provide reproductive health services to those who want to avail them.

3. Rep. Bagatsing voted “yes” by explaining

that history shows that the doctrines of the Catholic Church were the first to be estab-lished before the Philippine State and while not one Church doctrine has ever been amended, the nation’s laws change whenever a new president or Congress leadership gets elected. This, he said only indicates that it is the State that encroaches on the teachings of the Church.

4. Rep. Walden F. Bello voted “no” because the RH Bill respects and enshrines a person’s freedom of choice. He disclosed that Rep. Garcia’s amendment was not meant to per-fect the Bill but was just another tactic to de-rail and delay its approval. He appealed to his colleagues to hear the plea of the Filipino people for the Body to finally vote on the Bill.

5. Rep. Janette L. Garin said that she wanted the government to provide reproductive health services to the public as a means to improve their educational and economic status and overall living conditions. In voting “no”, she opined that the government should decide by the dictates and wants of the peo-ple and not by mere political points.

6. Rep. Gonzales (N.) voted against the pro-posed amendment. Pointing out that four Filipino babies are born every minute based on official government statistics, he urged his colleagues to clearly show their position on the Bill as well as their integrity and courage by proceeding with the voting on the meas-ure.


7. Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan likewise voted in the negative as she stressed that the amend-ment is redundant and that the government must ensure the provision of health services especially for the marginalized sector.

8. Remarking that many people were in the gal-

lery awaiting the fate of the RH measure, Rep. David L. Kho voted in the negative and urged his colleagues to expedite the proceed-ings.

9. Rep. Edcel C. Lagman also voted against the

proposal because it bans the State from pro-moting RH care services and commodities; enjoins the State to adopt and promote the Catholic Church dogma; destroys the essence of the Bill which promotes reproductive health and responsible parenthood within the hallmark of freedom of informed choice; is redundant because the Bill contains many provisions protecting individual conscience and religious conviction.

10. In voting for the proposal, Rep. Maria Mi-

lagros “Mitos’ H. Magsaysay said that House Bill No. 4244 itself is redundant and its dis-cussion useless, because its provisions could already be found in Sections 17 and 20 of the Magna Carta for Women which was passed in the 14th Congress.

11. Rep. Hermilando I. Mandanas explained that

he was voting for the proposal because it would clarify the phrase “consistent with their religious convictions” found in the Bill’s “Declaration of Policy.”

12. Speaking in Filipino, Rep. Marcoleta

stressed that the Bill respects one’s freedom of choice as it provides for artificial as well as natural family planning methods. Voting in the negative, he asked Church leaders to cite any part of the Bible which prohibits the use of contraceptives. He said that the Church should do its responsibility of teach-ing the faithful about morality and not dele-gate it to the State. As he cited the encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI which states that the good ordering of society is the responsibility of the State and not of the Church, he voted “no” to the proposed amendment.

13. Explaining his negative vote, Deputy

Speaker Jesus Crispin C. Remulla stressed that the proposed amendment will spoil the whole RH Bill and will violate Section 5 of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution which

states that, “No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

14. Casting an affirmative vote, Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez enumerated and explained the particular constitutional provisions to be im-plemented by the proposed amendment, as follows: 1) Article III, Section 5 of the Bill of Rights 2) Article XV, Sections 1 and 3(1); and 3) Article II, Section 12. He pointed out that the RH Bill should not violate the Con-stitution but should implement the same.

15. Voting “yes” to the proposed amendment, Minority Leader Danilo E. Suarez stated in Filipino that the present population growth rate of the country is still acceptable. Given that the Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, he said that it would be hard for the anti-RH Catholics to pay taxes to the government which will only be used to buy contraceptives.

16. Stating that the State is secular and neutral while Church leaders are expected to guide their followers, Rep. Jose Ma. F. Zubiri III however argued that the people have the right to choose their faith and to practice the same and that if they choose not to be faith-ful, then it is a problem between the religious leaders and their followers. He pointed out that the State has to take care of the people who want to avail of basic public services. He then voted “no” to the proposed amend-ment.

RESULT OF THE VOTING ON

REP. GARCIA’S (P.) PROPOSED

AMENDMENT


Affirmative:

Abayon Acop Almario Almonte Alvarez (A.) Angping Apostol Aquino Arago Arnaiz Arroyo Aumentado Bagasina Bagatsing Bataoil


Bonoan-David Cabaluna Calimbas-Villarosa Cari Castro Climaco Crisologo Cua Dalog Daza De Venecia Del Mar Dimaporo (F.) Ejercito Enverga Ferrer (A.) Garcia (A.) Garcia (P.) Garcia (P.J.) Golez (R.) Gomez Gonzales (A.) Gullas Lico Madrona Magsaysay (M.) Mandanas Maranan Matugas Mellana Mendoza (J.) Mendoza (M.) Mercado-Revilla Nograles Obillo Ocampos Pancho Pangandaman (N.) Panotes Paras Payuyo Puno Quisumbing Rivera Rodriguez (M.) Rodriguez (R.) Roman Romualdez Salimbangon Socrates Suarez Teodoro Teves Tiangco Tieng Ting Vargas-Alfonso Velarde

Velasco Violago

Negative:

Abad Acharon Aggabao Aglipay Agyao Albano Amatong Angara Arenas Bag-ao Baguilat Banal Barzaga Batocabe Bello Belmonte (F.) Belmonte (V.) Biazon Binay Bulut-Begtang Cabilao Yambao Cajayon Calixto-Rubiano Canonigo Castelo Catamco Celeste Cerilles Cojuangco (E.) Cojuangco (K.) Cortuna Cosalan Cruz-Gonzales De Jesus Defensor Del Rosario (A. G.) Dimaporo (I.) Dy Ebdane Ferriol Flores Fuentes Garay Garcia-Albano Garin (J.) Garin (S.) Gatchalian (R.) Gatchalian (W.) Go (A.C.) Go (A.) Gonzales (N.) Gunigundo Herrera-Dy


Ilagan Jalosjos (C.) Jalosjos (R.) Jalosjos (S.) Javier Joson Kho (D.) Labadlabad Lacson-Noel Lagdameo (M.) Lagman Leonen-Pizarro Limkaichong Lopez (C.) Lopez (C.J.) Marcoleta Mariano Mercado (R.) Mirasol Noel Ortega (F.) Padilla Paez Palatino Palmones Pichay Primicias-Agabas Quimbo Remulla Romulo Sacdalan Sahidulla Sarmiento (M.) Sema Singson (E.) Sy-Alvarado Tañada Tinio Treñas Tugna Ungab Villar Villarica Yap (S.) Yu Zamora Zubiri

Abstention:

None

With 75 affirmative votes, 100 negative votes and no abstention, the Body disapproved the proposed amendment of Rep. Garcia (P.).

MANIFESTATION OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia manifested to propose an

amendment on line 3 of page 2.

MANIFESTATION OF REP. NOGRALES

Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles manifested to propose an amendment on line 2 of page 2.

With the indulgence of Rep. Garcia (P.), the Chair recognized Rep. Nograles to pursue his anterior amendment.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

OF REP. NOGRALES

Rep. Nograles proposed on line 2, page 2, to

replace the word “reproductive” with the phrase MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD so that the line would read as follows: “BASIC HUMAN RIGHT TO MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH.”

Rep. Lagman did not accept the proposed amendment.

QUERY FROM THE CHAIR

The Chair inquired whether Rep. Nograles would

insist on his proposed amendment, this as he explained that if the latter would do so and an objection is raised, then the Body would proceed to a division of the House.

Rep. Nograles said that he would insist on his proposed amendment.

REMARKS OF REP. MANDANAS

Before the Chair could proceed to the division of

the House, Rep. Mandanas stood to point out that the Rules of the House allow a Member to be given time to explain his proposed amendment in case the Sponsor rejects the same.

REP. NOGRALES’ PROPOSED AMENDMENT

(Continuation)

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Nograles stressed the need to be specific on the kind of health that the measure would provide. He expressed hope that under the Definition of Terms, there would be a clear definition of the phrase “maternal, neonatal and child care.”


VIVA VOCE VOTING ON REP. NOGRALES’

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

The Chair thereafter called for a viva voce voting on Rep. Nograles’ proposed amendment on line 2, page 2, to replace the word “reproductive” with the phrase MATERNAL, NEONATAL AND CHILD. With majority of the Members voting against, the proposed amendment was lost. MANIFESTATION OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia sought anew to propose an

amendment on line 13 of page 2. MANIFESTATION OF REP. MANDANAS

Rep. Mandanas manifested his intent to propose

an amendment in the Bill’s Definition of Terms, to which the Chair stated that the Body was not yet considering amendments thereon as it was still taking up proposals on page 2 of the measure. AMENDMENT OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Thereafter, as proposed by Rep. Rodriguez (R.) and accepted by the Sponsor, there being no objection, the Body approved on page 2, line 4 of Section 2, between the words “responsible parenthood(.)” and “Toward this end,” to insert the following sentences: THE FAMILY IS THE NATURAL AND FUNDAMENTAL GROUP UNIT OF SOCIETY AND IS ENTITLED TO PROTECTION BY SOCIETY AND THE STATE. THE 2000 BEIJING DECLARATION AND THE PLATFORM FOR ACTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD PROVIDES THAT THE STATE SHALL BE IN CONFORMITY WITH ALL HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS, AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A FULL RESPECT FOR VARIOUS RELIGIONS AND ETHICAL VALUES, CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS AND PHILOSOPHICAL CONVICTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. AMENDMENTS OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

As proposed by Rep. Garcia and accepted by the

Sponsor, there being no objection, the Body approved the following amendments:

1. On page 2, line 13, to delete the word “AND” so that the phrase would read PUB-LIC ACCESS TO RELEVANT; and

2. On line 14 of the same page, between the words “ethical” and “affordable,” to insert

the word MORAL so that the line would read as follows: INFORMATION AND EDUCA-TION ON MEDICALLY SAFE, LEGAL, ETHICAL, MORAL, AFFORDABLE…”.

AMENDMENT OF REP. AUMENTADO

Rep. Erico B. Aumentado proposed on page 2,

line 14 to insert between the words “on” and “medically” the phrase NATURAL BILLINGS OVULATION METHOD. He said that his proposal aims to balance the thrust of the measure on the use of artificial conception and the Billings Ovulation Method that was promoted by Drs. John and Evelyn Billings.

Rep. Lagman proposed to amend Rep.

Aumentado’s proposal by inserting the word MODERN so it would read NATURAL MODERN, BILLINGS OVULATION METHOD.

The proponent contended that the Billings

Ovulation Method is the one recognized by the World Health Organization to be effective and efficient.

The Sponsor then agreed to the original proposal of Rep. Aumentado but stated for the record that the said method is known worldwide as a natural, modern ovulation method.

There being no objection, the Body approved the proposed amendment. REP. MANDANAS’ PROPOSED

AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT

Rep. Mandanas proposed to amend Rep.

Aumentado’s amendment by inserting on page 2, line 14, the word MORAL after the word “ethical.”

The Chair and the Sponsor however noted that the proposal was already approved earlier on. AMENDMENT OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

As proposed by Rep. Rodriguez and accepted by

the Sponsor, there being no objection, the Body approved on page 2, line 15, after the word “devices(,),” to add the phrase THAT DO NOT VIOLATE THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION(,).

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

OF REP. NOGRALES

Rep. Nograles proposed on page 2, line 15, to delete the word “reproductive.”


The Sponsor did not accept the proposal as he reasoned out that House Bill No. 4244 deals specifically with reproductive health.

Rep. Nograles insisted with his proposed

amendment and called for a division of the House.

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON REP. NOGRALES’

PROPOSED AMENDMENT


viva voce voting on the proposed amendment of Rep. Nograles. With majority of the Members voting against the proposal, the same was voted down.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

Rep. Garcia proposed on page 2, line 16, after

the words “FERTILIZED OVUM,” to insert the phrase” IN THE UTERUS OR ENDANGER IN ANY MANNER THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN FROM CONCEPTION.

Rep. Lagman partially accepted the proposed

amendment with regard to the words IN THE UTERUS but rejected the rest of the proposed amendment after Rep. Garcia (P.) explained that his proposal seeks to restate Section 12, Article II of the Constitution providing for the protection of the life of the unborn from conception which he defined as the start of life.

Rep. Lagman suggested that they use the constitutional phrase WHICH DO NOT PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN, instead of the loose word “ENDANGER” but Rep. Garcia (P.) pursued his proposal.


Rep. Garcia then remarked that the House cannot

act on his proposed amendment in the absence of enough warm bodies.



8:36 p.m.



PROPOSED AMENDMENT

OF REP. GARCIA (P.)

(Continuation)

Rep. Lagman observed that the second part of the proposal of Rep. Garcia intended to define the beginning of life which medical experts had not yet determined and which Congress had no competence to determine; and pointed out that the Senate had rejected a similar proposal.

AMENDMENT TO REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

After Rep. Garcia cited a constitutional provision on the State’s protection of the life of the mother and of the unborn from conception, Rep. Lagman said he would accept the amendment if it was phrased as PROTECTION OF THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN FROM CONCEPTION.

Rep. Garcia acceded to the amendment to his proposed amendment.

APPROVAL OF REP. GARCIA’S (P.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT, AS AMENDED

As proposed by Rep. Garcia (P.) and accepted by the Sponsor, there being no objection, the Body approved on page 2, to amend lines 15-16 starting after the word supplies” to read as follows: WHICH DO NOT PREVENT THE IMPLANTATION OF A FERTILIZED OVUM IN THE UTERUS AND THE PROTECTION OF THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN FROM CONCEPTION. PROPOSED AMENDMENT


As regards the approved amendment, after the

word “conception,” Rep. Rodriguez proposed to insert the phrase WHERE HUMAN LIFE BEGINS.

The Sponsor did not accept it, explaining that it already defined the beginning of human life which medical experts had not yet determined and was rejected in the Senate. APPEAL OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Appealing his proposal, Rep. Rodriguez refuted

the Sponsor’s statement by citing research and findings of neonatal experts, medical textbook authors and the president of the Philippine Medical Association.

Rep. Lagman pointed out that medical experts were not themselves unanimous on when life begins


and reiterated that Congress had no competence to make such a definition.

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT


Thereupon, the Chair called for a viva voce

voting on the proposed amendment of Rep. Rodriguez, and with majority voting against it, the same was lost.

MOTION OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Rep. Rodriguez then stressed that the definition on when life begins was a fundamental issue and moved for a division of the House.



8:51 p.m.


At 9:00 p.m., the session resumed.

ROLL CALL

Citing his colleague’s pending motion, Rep.

Gonzales (N.) moved that the Roll be called to determine the number of Members present in plenary. There being no objection, the Body proceeded to the Roll Call.



Abad Abayon Acharon Acop Aggabao Aglipay Alvarez (A.) Amatong Angara Angping Apacible Aquino Arago Arnaiz Arroyo Aumentado Bag-ao

Bagasina Baguilat Banal Barzaga Bataoil Bello Belmonte (F.) Binay Bonoan-David Bulut-Begtang Cabaluna Cabilao Yambao Cajayon Calixto-Rubiano Castelo Castro Catamco Climaco Cojuangco (E.) Cojuangco (K.) Cosalan Cruz-Gonzales Cua De Jesus Defensor Del Mar Del Rosario (A. G.) Dimaporo (F.) Dimaporo (I.) Dy Ebdane Ferriol Flores Fuentes Garcia (A.) Garcia (P.) Garcia (P.J.) Garcia-Albano Garin (J.) Garin (S.) Gatchalian (R.) Gatchalian (W.) Go (A.C.) Golez (R.) Gonzales (A.) Gonzales (N.) Gonzalez Gullas Gunigundo Herrera-Dy Ilagan Jalosjos (C.) Jalosjos (R.) Jalosjos (S.) Javier Joson Kho (D.) Labadlabad


Lacson-Noel Lagman Lanete Ledesma Leonen-Pizarro Lico Limkaichong Lopez (C.) Lopez (C.J.) Magsaysay (M.) Mandanas Marcoleta Mariano Mellana Mendoza (J.) Mendoza (M.) Mercado (R.) Mercado-Revilla Nava Noel Nograles Obillo Ocampos Ortega (F.) Padilla Paez Palatino Palmones Pancho Pangandaman (N.) Panotes Paras Primicias-Agabas Puno Quimbo Ramos Relampagos Remulla Rodriguez (M.) Rodriguez (R.) Roman Romualdez Romulo Sacdalan Sahidulla Salimbangon Sambar Sarmiento (C.) Sarmiento (M.) Sema Singson (E.) Socrates Sy-Alvarado Tañada Tiangco Tieng Ting Tinio

Tugna Unabia Ungab Unico Vargas-Alfonso Velarde Velasco Villar Villarica Yap (S.) Yu Zamora Zubiri With 146 Members responding to the Call, the

Chair declared the presence of a quorum.

QUERY OF REP. GONZALES (N.)

Rep. Gonzales then asked what was 20 percent or

one-fifth of 146.

QUERY OF REP. BAGATSING

To Rep. Bagatsing’s query on whether what were

counted were only the Members in the Session Hall and not those on official business, the Chair replied in the affirmative. REMARKS OF REP. GONZALES (N.)

Stating that 30 Members were thus required for

the request of Rep. Rodriguez (R.) for nominal voting on his proposed amendment, Rep. Gonzales designated Reps. Carol Jayne B. Lopez, Sarmiento (M.), Binay and Baguilat as tellers. COUNT BY TELLERS ON

REP. RODRIGUEZ’ (R.) MOTION

FOR NOMINAL VOTING


count by tellers; and with 37 Members rising in favor of the motion, the Chair noted that the one-fifth requirement had been satisfied so a nominal voting was in order. NOMINAL VOTING ON THE PROPOSED

AMENDMENT OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Pursuant to Section 115, Rule XV of the Rules of

the House, there being no objection, the Body proceeded to a nominal voting on Rep. Rodriguez’ proposed amendment to Rep. Garcia’s (P.) amendment on page 2, lines 15-16, after the word “conception,” to insert the phrase WHERE HUMAN LIFE BEGINS.


The Chair then directed the Secretary General to call the Roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second Roll Call was made.



1. Casting an affirmative vote, Rep. Erico B.

Aumentado stated that the proposed amend-ment was consistent with medically ac-cepted practices and principles as well as constitutional provisions that life begins at conception.

2. Rep. Bag-ao opined that the Members have

no right to misinterpret the constitutional provision that the State shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the un-born from conception. She voted “no.”

3. Agreeing with Rep. Rodriguez (R.) that life

begins at conception, Rep. Bagatsing said in Filipino that one prevents life by preventing the meeting of the sperm and the egg. He voted “yes.”

4. Citing Article II, Section 12 of the Constitu-

tion and the Child and Youth Welfare Code, Rep. Garcia (P.) contended that life begins at conception and voted in the affirmative.

5. Observing that it had always been difficult

for anyone to ascertain when life begins, Rep. Garin (J.) opined that only God knows when. She stressed that the Members should focus on ways of improving the lives of people instead of debating thereon; and voted in the negative.

6. Rep. Gonzales (N.) voted in the negative as

well. Pointing out that more children were being born as the House debated on the measure, he asked who would sustain their basic needs of food, shelter and education.

7. Rep. Lagman registered his objection to the

proposed amendment as he reiterated that the Legislature was not competent to define the beginning of life as medical authorities themselves could not agree thereon. He re-marked that while the Body slowly deliber-ated on House Bill No. 4244, countless mothers die from the complications of de-livery.

8. Rep. Mandanas explained his affirmative vote by stressing that giving value to life means giving it a definition and fully study-ing the issue to find the best way of han-dling it.

9. In voting “no,” Rep. Marcoleta emphasized

that the issue was not defining the beginning of life but providing services for responsible parenthood including family planning meth-ods. He added that only God knows when life begins.

10. Rep. Rodriguez (R.) read into the records

portions of the deliberations of the 1987 Constitutional Commission, on conception. He stressed anew that the research and views of various experts supported his posi-tion.

11. Rep. Zubiri opined that one had to define

what it meant to be alive before asking when life began; and pointed out that while the Constitution stated that the life of the unborn will be protected from conception, it did not define what conception was. He concluded that the House was not the forum for these issues and voted in the negative.


ON REP. RODRIGUEZ’ (R.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT


Affirmative:

Abayon Acharon Acop Almario Alvarez (A.) Angping Aquino Arnaiz Arroyo Aumentado Bagasina Bagatsing Bataoil Bonoan-David Cabaluna Cabilao Yambao Castro Climaco Cua Del Mar


Dimaporo (F.) Garcia (A.) Garcia (P.) Garcia (P.J.) Golez (R.) Gonzales (A.) Gullas Gunigundo Labadlabad Lanete Lico Lopez (C.) Magsaysay (M.) Mandanas Mendoza (M.) Mercado-Revilla Nograles Obillo Ocampos Pangandaman (N.) Panotes Paras Puno Rodriguez (M.) Rodriguez (R.) Roman Romualdez Romulo Salimbangon Socrates Sy-Alvarado Tiangco Tieng Ting Unabia Velarde Velasco

Negative:

Abad Aggabao Aglipay Almonte Amatong Angara Arago Arquiza Bag-ao Baguilat Banal Barzaga Bello Belmonte (F.) Binay Bulut-Begtang Cajayon

Calixto-Rubiano Castelo Catamco Cojuangco (E.) Cojuangco (K.) Cosalan Cruz-Gonzales De Jesus Defensor Del Rosario (A. G.) Dy Ebdane Ferriol Flores Fuentes Garcia-Albano Garin (J.) Garin (S.) Gatchalian (R.) Gatchalian (W.) Go (A.C.) Gonzales (N.) Herrera-Dy Ilagan Jalosjos (C.) Jalosjos (R.) Jalosjos (S.) Joson Kho (D.) Lacson-Noel Lagman Ledesma Leonen-Pizarro Limkaichong Lopez (C.J.) Marcoleta Mariano Mendoza (J.) Mercado (R.) Noel Ortega (F.) Padilla Paez Palatino Palmones Pancho Primicias-Agabas Quimbo Sacdalan Sahidulla Sambar Sarmiento (M.) Sema Singson (E.) Tañada Tinio Ungab Vargas-Alfonso


Villar Villarica Yap (S.) Yu Zamora Zubiri

Abstention: Nava With 57 affirmative votes, 81 negative votes, and

one abstention, the proposed amendment of Rep. Rodriguez (R.) was lost.

MOTIONS OF REPS. GARIN (J.)

AND SOCRATES

Subsequently, Rep. Garin (J.) moved to suspend consideration of House Bill No. 4244 while Rep. Socrates moved to adjourn the session.




WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012 53


At 4:00 p.m. of Wednesday, December 5, 2012,

the session resumed with Deputy Speaker Jesus

Crispin C. Remulla presiding.


On motion of Representative Roman T. Romulo,

the Chair suspended the session at 4:00 p.m.



Speaker Lorenzo R. Tañada III presiding.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY OF REP. SOCRATES

The Chair recognized Rep. Victorino Dennis M.

Socrates who inquired on the former’s ruling on his

motion the previous night to adjourn the session.

With the permission of the Chair, Majority

Leader Neptali M. Gonzales II read for the record the

transcript of stenographic notes (TSN) covering the

plenary proceeding at 10:10 p.m. of Tuesday,

December 4, 2012, which indicated the successive

motions of Reps. Janette L. Garin and Socrates to

suspend consideration of House Bill No. 4244 and to

adjourn until four o’clock, respectively. He stated

however that the Chair never recognized Rep.

Socrates; hence, there was no pending motion to

adjourn .

Rep. Socrates referred to Section 89 of the Rules

of the House on the recognition of a Member to

speak on the floor, and opined that the provision does

not give discretion to the Chair whether or not to

recognize a Member who wishes to speak. For this

reason, he said he was entitled to recognition by the

Chair the previous night. He added that it so

happened that when he made the motion, Rep. Garin

(J.) simultaneously moved for the suspension of

House Bill No. 4244. He then pointed out that

Section 97 of the Rules provides that a motion to

adjourn takes precedence over a motion to suspend.

In response, Rep .Gonzales (N.) cited Section 88,

Rule XII of the House Rules on the manner of

addressing the Chair, and emphasized that any

Member who wishes to stand on the floor must first

seek recognition from the Chair and only after being

recognized can he or she speak. He referred anew to

the aforementioned TSN which proved that at no

given time was Rep. Socrates ever recognized by the

Chair, although for the record, it appeared that he did

say something on the floor.

Rep. Socrates thereupon asked for a ruling from

the Chair.

RULING OF THE CHAIR

As he noted that even Rep. Socrates himself had

stated that he sought recognition from the Chair

simultaneously with Rep. Garin (J.), the Chair ruled

that as the Presiding Officer, he has the discretion on

who he would like to recognize, pursuant to Sections

88 and 89 of the House Rules. He remarked that he

chose to recognize Rep. Garin (J.).

APPEAL OF REP. SOCRATES

Rep. Socrates appealed the ruling of the Chair to

the Body.

OBJECTION OF REP. GONZALES (N.)

Rep. Gonzales maintained that Rep. Socrates’

appeal would be a violation of the Rules of the House

and would need the unanimous consent of the House.

He then posed his objection to the appeal.


The Chair stated that the unanimous consent of

the House to approve Rep. Socrates’ appeal cannot

be had in view of Rep. Gonzales’ (N.) objection

thereto.


The session was suspended at 5:16 p.m., on

motion of Rep. Gonzales (N.).




Rep. Gonzales (N.) reiterated his objection to

Rep. Socrates’ appeal and the point that recognizing

the appeal would be a violation of the Rules of the

House.

WITHDRAWAL OF REP. SOCRATES’ APPEAL

Rep. Socrates withdrew his appeal on the ruling

of the Chair.


Both the Chair and Rep. Gonzales (N.) thanked

Rep. Socrates for his kind understanding.

MANIFESTATION OF REP. MERCADO-REVILLA

At this point, the Chair recognized Rep. Lani

Mercado-Revilla who signified her intent to rise on a

question of personal and collective privilege,

specifically calling for sobriety and temperance in

the face of the emotional nature of the plenary

deliberations, and asking to strike off certain words

in the minutes of the previous day’s proceedings.

The Chair said that it would be hard to refer to

the minutes of the plenary proceedings because with

the Journal of the previous session yet to be prepared,

it would be difficult to follow the portion of the

proceedings which was Rep. Mercado-Revilla’s main

concern.

Rep. Mercado-Revilla clarified that she had

requested for a copy of the TSN of the previous day’s

proceedings from the Office of the Secretary

General. She promised to make her speech short and

then appealed that her urgent request to strike off a

portion of the records be granted.

The Chair answered that he would like to accede

to her request as he already had an idea of the portion

she was referring to. He however reiterated the need

to first refer to the Journal of the previous day’s

session.


Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Gonzales

(N.) said that Rep. Mercado-Revilla may opt to

deliver her speech and just reserve the right to make

an appropriate motion to strike off any portion of the

Journal once copies thereof are distributed to the

Members. He said that the copies will be available

for distribution on Monday, December 10, 2012 as

the session would be adjourned that day.

The Chair thereafter recognized Rep. Mercado-

Revilla for her question of privilege.

QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. MERCADO-REVILLA

Rep. Mercado-Revilla from the Second District

of Cavite appealed to her colleagues to exercise

sobriety and temperance in the midst of the intense

deliberations on the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.

She made the call in response to the shabby treatment

she received from three Members the previous night,

specifying in detail the instances involving 1) Rep.

Rodante D. Marcoleta, whom she said had uttered an

uncalled for remark about her husband, Sen. Ramon

“Bong” Revilla, and which remark she moved to be

stricken off the Record and the Journal of the House;

2) Deputy Speaker Tañada; and 3) Rep. Garin (J.),

who both swiped at her when she sought clarification

regarding the suspension of the session.

After disclosing that Rep. Garin had already sent

her a message of apology but with the harm already

done, Rep. Mercado-Revilla stressed that she does

not aspire to become an outstanding lawmaker like

her colleagues but merely seeks to become a good

Member who follows the dictates of her conscience

and faith as she performs her duties as the

Representative of her constituents.

MANIFESTATION OF REP. MARCOLETA

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Marcoleta

manifested for the record his sincere and profuse

apologies to Rep. Mercado-Revilla and said that his

remark was done in the heat of his advocacy of the

RH Bill. He pointed out that he never intended to

malign the good name of his colleagues and her

husband.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 664 ON HOUSE BILL NO. 4244


objection, the Body resumed consideration on

Second Reading of House Bill No. 4244, as

embodied in Committee Report No. 664 and reported

out by the Committee on Population and Family

Relations.


General read the title of the Bill, to wit:


SIVE POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE PAR-

ENTHOOD, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH,

AND POPULATION AND DEVELOP-

MENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”

Rep. Romulo stated that the measure was still in

the period of individual amendments and that Rep.

Edcel C. Lagman, the principal author of the

measure, was ready to consider amendments to the

measure.


The session was suspended at 5:27 p.m., on

motion of Rep. Romulo.




SUSPENSION OF CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE BILL NO. 4244


objection, the Body temporarily suspended

consideration of House Bill No. 4244.


Rep. Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia acknowledged

the presence in the Session Hall of Catholic bishops

from various dioceses and delegates from the Foreign

Volunteer Service Organization, as well as guests of

Rep. Romero Federico “Miro” S. Quimbo, Kaka J.

Bag-ao, Walden F. Bello, Kimi S. Cojuangco,

Bernadette R. Herrera-Dy, and Angelo B. Palmones.



5:33 p.m.



Speaker Jesus Crispin C. Remulla presiding.

QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. TAÑADA

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Tañada

commented on Rep. Mercado-Revilla’s mention of

his name in her speech by stating that he did not react

to her statement when she approached him at the

rostrum the previous night because the House was

not in session at that moment. He averred that he had

no intention of hurting her feelings as she herself

knows his character and personality.

He reasoned out that he had been presiding over

the plenary deliberations on the RH Bill for two

straight days or a total of almost 12 hours without

leaving the rostrum and that the previous day’s

session was long and abounded with heated

arguments. As he was anticipating another heated

argument on the question of whether the session was

suspended or adjourned, the tone of his voice could

have repelled Rep. Mercado-Revilla. He then

sincerely apologized to his colleague.



objection, the Body proceeded to the Additional

Reference of Business.


General read on First Reading the titles of the

following Bills and Resolutions, including

Committee Reports, which were referred to the

appropriate Committees as hereunder indicated:

BILLS ON FIRST READING


“AN ACT INCREASING THE ALLOWANCE

OF PERSONAL EXEMPTION FOR

INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS, AMENDING

FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 35 (A)

AND (B) OF REPUBLIC ACT 8424, OR

THE TAX REFORM ACT OF 1997, AS

AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT 9504”

By Representative Tinio

TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND

MEANS


“AN ACT GRANTING THE FIRST BAY

POWER CORPORATION A FRANCHISE

TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH,

OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR THE

CONVEYANCE OF ELECTRIC POWER

TO THE END-USERS IN THE

MUNICIPALITY OF BAUAN, PROVINCE

OF BATANGAS”

By Representative Mandanas

TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE

FRANCHISES


“AN ACT CREATING AND ESTABLISHING

THE PHILIPPINE SPACE AGENCY (PSA)

AND DEFINE THE PURPOSE AND

SCOPE OF ITS ACTIVITIES”

By Representative Palmones

TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT


REORGANIZATION AND THE

COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY


“AN ACT INSURING THAT GOVERNMENT

SPECIAL HOSPITALS, MEDICAL

CENTERS, INSTITUTES OR SANITARIA

EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT 'PAY-WHAT-

YOU-CAN POLICY' FOR POOR

PATIENTS FOR THEIR TREATMENT,

CONFINEMENT OR HOSPITALIZATION,

AND HEALING AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES”




“AN ACT ON THE PROVISION OF AUDIBLE

TRAFFIC SIGNALS (ATS) AS A MEANS

OF ALERTING THE BLIND AND

VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEDESTRIANS”

By Representative Colmenares

TO THE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION


“AN ACT CREATING THE POLICE

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

SYSTEM AS THE PREMIER

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR

TRAINING, HUMAN RESOURCE

DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUING

EDUCATION OF ALL POLICE

PERSONNEL, AMENDING FOR THE

PURPOSE SECTIONS 66-68 OF

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975, OTHERWISE

KNOWN AS THE 'DEPARTMENT OF THE

INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

ACT', AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

By Representatives Antonino and Garcia (P.J.)

TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER

AND SAFETY


“AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE

EAR, NOSE AND THROAT (ENT)

CENTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS

THEREFOR”

By Representative Marañon



“AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE

BLOOD DISEASE AND TRANSFUSION

CENTER, DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES,

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND

APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

By Representative Marañon


RESOLUTIONS


“RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE

WANTON VIOLATION BY GLENN

DEFENSE MARINES ASIA, A

CONTRACTOR OF THE UNITED STATES

NAVY, OF PHILIPPINE AND

INTERNATIONAL LAWS ON THE

PROTECTION OF SOVEREIGNTY AND

THE ENVIRONMENT, AND URGING AN

INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF

LEGISLATION, INTO THE SAME”




“RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE HOUSE

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO

CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF

LEGISLATION, INTO THE MASSACRE,

ON 18 OCTOBER 2012, COMMITTED BY

THE 27TH

INFANTRY BATTALION OF

THE PHILIPPINE ARMY, OF A

MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN IN

THEIR HOME IN TAMPAKAN, SOUTH

COTABATO, AND STRONGLY

DEMANDING THE PULLOUT OF THE

27TH

IB AND THE SPECIAL CAFGU

ARMED AUXILIARY UNITS USED BY

XSTRATA-SAGITTARIUS MINES, INC.

FROM THE SAID COMMUNITY”





“A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING AND

COMMENDING CONVERGYS IN ITS

MULTI-SITE DEDICATION CEREMONY

FOR ITS NEW CONTACT CENTERS IN

THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR

GENERATING THOUSANDS OF JOBS

FOR FILIPINOS”

By Representative Golez (A.)

TO THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND

EMPLOYMENT


“RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE

COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE AND

FISHERIES RESOURCES TO CONDUCT

AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION,

ON THE IMPACT OF VISAYAN SEAS

FISH BAN TO THE LIVELIHOOD OF

SMALL FISHERFOLK”

By Representative Mariano




COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE AND

PROFESSIONAL REGULATION TO

CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF

LEGISLATION, ON THE PLIGHT AND

WORKING CONDITIONS OF NURSES

UNDER THE RN HEALS PROJECT OF

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH”

By Representative Casiño




COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO

CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID

OF LEGISLATION, INTO THE JOINT

ORDER NO. 14-2012 OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE

(DND) - DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG)

WHICH IS AN UNDISCLOSED LIST OF

'WANTED COMMUNISTS' AS IT

VIOLATES THE LEGAL AND

DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE

AND SABOTAGES THE PEACE

PROCESS”

By Representatives Colmenares, Casiño,

Mariano and Tinio



“RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE

OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THAT IT STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE

POSITION TAKEN BY THE

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

TO PROTEST THE NEW E-PASSPORT

BEING ISSUED BY THE PEOPLE'S

REPUBLIC OF CHINA BY NOT

STAMPING THE PHILIPPINE VISA

THEREON”

By Representative Golez (R.)

TO THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN

AFFAIRS



Members were made coauthors of the Bills and

Resolution hereunder indicated:

Rep. Cinchona C. Cruz-Gonzales for House Bill

No. 2861;

Rep. Reena Concepcion G. Obillo for House Bill

No. 3235;

Rep. Roilo S. Golez for House Bill No. 6079;

Rep. Pastor M. Alcover Jr. for House Bills No.

6202 and 6573;

Rep. Angelo B. Palmones for House Bills No.

6308, 6352, 6489 and 6491;

Reps. Jeci A. Lapus, Kaka J. Bag-ao, Manuel S.

Agyao, Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Mylene J. Garcia-


Albano, Bernardo M. Vergara, Acmad M. Tomawis,

Maximo B. Dalog and Nasser C. Pangandaman for

House Bill No. 6543;

Rep. Maria Evita R. Arago for House Bill No.

6718; and

Rep. Anthony Rolando T. Golez Jr. for House

Bill No. 6696 and House Resolution No. 2821.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report by the Committee on Justice (Committee

Report No. 2493), re H. No. 6487, entitled:

“AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE

CITIZENSHIP TO BEATRIZ BERTA

OLGADO ROXAS”

recommending its approval without amendment

Sponsors: Representatives Tupas and

Limkaichong


Report by the Committee on Justice (Committee

Report No. 2494), re H. No. 6737, entitled:

“AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PRIVATE

SECURITY INDUSTRY, REPEALING FOR

THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5487

ENTITLED, ‘AN ACT TO REGULATE

THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION

OF PRIVATE DETECTIVE, WATCHMEN

OR SECURITY GUARD AGENCIES,’ AS

AMENDED”

recommending its approval in substitution of

House Bill Nos 3453 and 3876

Sponsors: Representatives Garcia (P.J.) and

Aglipay


Report by the Committee on Natural Resources, the

Committee on Appropriations and the Committee

on Ways and Means (Committee Report No.

2495), re H. No. 6738, entitled:

“AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE AGUSAN

MARSH SITUATED IN THE

MUNICIPALITIES OF TALACOGON,

SAN FRANCISCO, ROSARIO,

BUNAWAN, LORETO AND LA PAZ,

AGUSAN DEL SUR AS PROTECTED

AREA UNDER THE CATEGORY OF

WILDLIFE SANCTUARY PROVIDING

FOR ITS MANAGEMENT, AND FOR

OTHER PURPOSES”


House Bill No. 4399

Sponsors: Representatives Matugas, Lim-

kaichong, Ungab and Mellana


Report by the Committee on People's Participation

(Committee Report No. 2496), re H. No. 6739,

entitled:

“AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING INDUSTRY

CLUSTER-BASED PROGRAMS AND

PROJECTS THROUGH INTER-LOCAL

COOPERATION AND PEOPLE'S

PARTICIPATION, AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES”


House Bill No. 4962

Sponsors: Representatives Asilo, Cruz-Gonzales

and Paez


Report by the Committee on Tourism (Committee

Report No. 2497), re H. R. No. 2025, entitled:

“A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM TO

IMPLEMENT THE PROPER PROGRAMS

IN ORDER TO ATTRACT FOREIGNERS

AND OUR OVERSEAS FILIPINO

WORKERS TO GET HEALTH CARE,

MEDICAL, SURGICAL, AESTHETIC

AND OTHER WELLNESS NEEDS IN THE

PHILIPPINES IN ORDER TO BOOST

OUR MEDICAL TOURISM INDUSTRY”

informing the House of its findings and

recommendations

Sponsors: Representatives Miraflores, Rodriguez

(R.) and Rodriguez (M.)




RESOLUTION


“RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING HIS

EMINENCE LUIS ANTONIO GOKIM

TAGLE FOR BEING APPOINTED

CARDINAL BY POPE BENEDICT XVI IN

A PAPAL CONSISTORY AT SAINT

PETER'S BASILICA IN VATICAN CITY”

By Representative De Venecia



“RESOLUTION PROVIDING FINANCIAL

ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF

TYPHOON PABLO”

By Representatives Belmonte (F.), Garcia (P.).

Gonzales (N.), Suarez, Almario, Apacible,

Apostol, Aquino, Cua, Lagman, Mandanas,

Mercado-Revilla, Noel and Nograles


MOTION OF REP. ROMULO

Rep. Romulo then moved for the consideration

of House Resolution No. 2853, as contained in

Committee Report No. 2498.



5:39 p.m.



Speaker Tañada presiding.

ADOPTION OF HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2853

On successive motions of Rep. Romulo, there be-

ing no objection, the Body considered House Resolu-

tion No. 2853, as contained in Committee Report No.

2498 and reported out by the Committee on Rules;

dispensed with the reading of the text thereof without

prejudice to its insertion into the Record of the

House; and unanimously adopted the measure, enti-

tled: “RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONGRATU-

LATIONS AND ADMIRATION TO HIS MOST

REVEREND EMINENCE LUIS ANTONIO G.

TAGLE, ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA, HAVING

BEEN GIVEN THE TITLE OF CARDINAL-

DESIGNATE BY POPE BENEDICT XVI ON OC-

TOBER 24, 2012” in consolidation with House

Resolutions No. 2871 and 2929.

CHANGE OF REFERRAL OF CERTAIN HOUSE BILLS


objection, the Body changed the referral of the

following measures:

1. House Bill No. 494 – from the Committees

on Government Reorganization, and Justice

to the Committee on Justice;

2. House Bill No. 2059 – from the Committee

on Government Reorganization to the

Committee on Justice;


on Higher and Technical Education to the

Committee on Justice;


on Women and Gender Equality to the

Committee on Higher and Technical

Education; and

5. House Bills No. 2960 and 3820 – from the

Committees on Government Reorganiza-

tion, and Health, to the Committee on

Health.

ADOPTION OF HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2938

On successive motions of Rep. Romulo, there be-

ing no objection, the Body considered House Resolu-

tion No. 2938; dispensed with the reading of the text

thereof without prejudice to its insertion into the Re-

cord of the House; and unanimously adopted the

measure, entitled: “RESOLUTION PROVIDING

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF

TYPHOON PABLO.”

RATIFICATION OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT ON HOUSE BILL NO. 6455

On motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there being no

objection, the Body ratified the Conference

Committee Report on the disagreeing votes on House

Bill No. 6455 or the proposed 2013 General

Appropriations Act.


RESUMPTION OF CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE BILL NO. 4244


objection, the Body resumed consideration on

Second Reading of House Bill No. 4244, as

contained in Committee Report No. 664 and reported

out by the Committee on Population and Family

Relations, entitled:






Rep. Romulo stated the parliamentary status of

the measure and on his motion, the Chair recognized

Rep. Lagman to accept individual amendments.


On motion of Rep. Romulo, the Chair suspended

the session at 5:47 p.m.





objection, the Body suspended the consideration on

Second Reading of House Bill No. 4244.


At this point, Rep. Garin (J.) acknowledged the

presence in the Session Hall of certain Church

leaders.

ROLL CALL

Subsequently, on motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there

being no objection, the Body proceeded to the Roll

Call. Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary

General called the Roll and the following Members

were present:

Abad

Abayon

Acharon

Acop

Aglipay

Agyao

Albano

Alcala

Almario

Almonte

Alvarez (A.)

Amatong

Angping

Antonino

Apacible

Apostol

Aquino

Arnaiz

Arquiza

Arroyo

Asilo

Aumentado

Bag-ao

Bagatsing

Baguilat

Banal

Barzaga

Bataoil

Batocabe

Bello

Belmonte (F.)

Biazon

Bichara

Binay

Bulut-Begtang

Cabaluna

Cabilao Yambao

Canonigo

Cari

Casiño

Castelo

Castro

Catamco

Cerafica

Cerilles

Climaco

Cojuangco (E.)

Cojuangco (K.)

Collantes

Colmenares

Cortuna

Cruz-Gonzales

Cua

Dalog

Datumanong

Daza

De Jesus

De Venecia

Defensor

Del Rosario (A. A.)

Duavit

Dy

Ebdane

Enverga


Eriguel

Estrella

Ferrer (J.)

Ferriol

Flores

Fortuno

Fuentes

Garay

Garcia (A.)

Garcia-Albano

Garin (J.)

Garin (S.)

Gatchalian (R.)

Gatchalian (W.)

Golez (R.)

Gonzales (N.)

Gonzalez

Guanlao

Gullas

Gunigundo

Haresco

Hataman-Salliman

Herrera-Dy

Ilagan

Jalosjos (C.)

Javier

Joson

Kho (D.)

Lacson-Noel

Lagdameo (M.)

Lagman

Leonen-Pizarro

Limkaichong

Lopez (C.J.)

Malapitan

Mandanas

Maranan

Marcoleta

Marcos

Mariano

Mellana

Mendoza (J.)

Mendoza (R.)

Mercado (R.)

Mercado-Revilla

Miraflores

Mirasol

Montejo

Nava

Noel

Nograles

Obillo

Ocampos

Olivarez

Ortega (F.)

Padilla

Paez

Palatino

Palmones

Pancho

Pangandaman (N.)

Panotes

Paras

Pichay

Plaza

Primicias-Agabas

Quimbo

Quisumbing

Ramos

Relampagos

Remulla

Rodriguez (R.)

Roman

Romulo

Sacdalan

Sakaluran

Salimbangon

Salvacion

Sarmiento (M.)

Sema

Singson (E.)

Socrates

Suarez

Sy-Alvarado

Tañada

Teodoro

Teves

Tinio

Treñas

Ungab

Unico

Valencia

Velarde

Velasco

Villarica

Yap (S.)

Yu

Zubiri

With 162 Members responding to the Call, the

Chair declared the presence of a quorum. (See also

Appendix 1)

APPROVAL ON THIRD READING OF HOUSE BILL NO. 6565


objection, the Body proceeded to the approval on

Third Reading of House Bill No. 6565 as a certified

urgent Bill, pursuant to Section 26(2), Article VI of

the Constitution.


General read the title of the Bill, to wit:


“AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAW,

AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE RE-

PUBLIC ACT NO. 9160, OTHERWISE

KNOWN AS THE ‘ANTI-MONEY LAUN-

DERING ACT OF 2001’, AS AMENDED.”

The Chair directed the Secretary General to call

the Roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to

the Rules of the House, a second Roll call was made.



Affirmative:

Abad

Abayon

Acharon

Acop

Aglipay

Agyao

Albano

Alcala

Almario

Almonte

Alvarez (A.)

Amatong

Angping

Antonino

Apacible

Apostol

Arenas

Arnaiz

Arquiza

Asilo

Aumentado

Bag-ao

Bagatsing

Baguilat

Banal

Barzaga

Bataoil

Batocabe

Bello

Belmonte (F.)

Biazon

Bichara

Binay

Bulut-Begtang

Cabaluna

Cabilao Yambao

Canonigo

Cari

Castelo

Castro

Catamco

Cerafica

Cerilles

Climaco

Cojuangco (E.)

Cojuangco (K.)

Cortuna

Cruz-Gonzales

Dalog

Datumanong

Daza

De Venecia

Del Mar

Del Rosario (A. A.)

Duavit

Dy

Ebdane

Eriguel

Estrella

Ferriol

Flores

Fortuno

Fuentes

Garay

Garcia (A.)

Garcia-Albano

Garin (J.)

Garin (S.)

Gatchalian (R.)

Golez (R.)

Gonzales (N.)

Gonzalez

Guanlao

Gullas

Gunigundo

Haresco

Hataman-Salliman

Herrera-Dy

Jalosjos (C.)

Javier

Joson

Kho (D.)

Labadlabad

Lacson-Noel

Lagdameo (M.)

Lagman

Leonen-Pizarro

Limkaichong

Lopez (C.J.)

Magsaysay (M.)

Mandanas

Maranan

Marcos

Mellana

Mendoza (J.)

Mendoza (R.)

Mercado (R.)

Mercado-Revilla


Miraflores

Mirasol

Montejo

Nava

Noel

Nograles

Obillo

Ocampos

Olivarez

Ortega (F.)

Padilla

Paez

Palmones

Pancho

Pangandaman (N.)

Panotes

Paras

Pichay

Plaza

Primicias-Agabas

Quimbo

Quisumbing

Ramos

Relampagos

Remulla

Rodriguez (R.)

Roman

Sacdalan

Sakaluran

Salimbangon

Sarmiento (M.)

Sema

Singson (E.)

Sy-Alvarado

Tañada

Teves

Treñas

Tugna

Velarde

Velasco

Yap (S.)

Yu

Zubiri

Negative:

Casiño

Colmenares

De Jesus

Ilagan

Mariano

Palatino

Tinio

Abstention:

Dimaporo (F.)

With 141 affirmative votes, seven negative votes

and one abstention, the Body approved House Bill

No. 6565 on Third Reading.

EXPLANATION OF REP. RODRIGUEZ’ (R.) VOTE

Rep. Rodriguez said that he voted in favor of the

amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act

(AMLA) because they sought to expand the predicate

offenses that would lead to money laundering as well

as the institutions that are required to report

activities, the banks with a P500,000 threshold and

also the real estates and others. Moreover, he stressed

that under the measure, the Anti-Money Laundering

Council (AMLC) can now also file a petition with

the Court of Appeals ex parte to freeze an account.

He thereafter said that he would file a bill giving

authority to the AMLC to investigate predicate

offenses and allow it to immediately file a case.

RESUMPTION OF CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE BILL NO. 4244


jection, the Body resumed consideration on Second

Reading of House Bill No. 4244, as contained in

Committee Report No. 664 and submitted by the

Committee on Population and Family Relations, enti-

tled:






MANIFESTATION OF REP. MANDANAS

Rep. Mandanas manifested to propose an

amendment on page 2, starting from the end of line

22 moving up to page 3 of the measure.

ANTERIOR AMENDMENTS OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

As proposed by Rep. Rodriguez (R.) and

accepted by the Sponsor, there being no objection,

the Body approved after lines 10 to 12 of Section 2

the following amendments subject to style: THE

STATE RECOGNIZES MARRIAGE AS AN

INVIOLABLE SOCIAL INSTITUTION AND THE

FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY WHICH IN

TURN IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE NATION.

PURSUANT THERETO, THE STATE SHALL

DEFEND THE RIGHT OF SPOUSES TO FOUND

A FAMILY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR


RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS AND THE

DEMANDS OF RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD

AND THE RIGHT OF CHILDREN TO RECEIVE

PROPER CARE AND NUTRITION AND TO

SPECIAL PROTECTION FROM ALL FORMS OF

NEGLECT, ABUSE, CRUELTY AND

EXPLOITATION AND OTHER CONDITIONS

PREJUDICIAL TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT(.)

Likewise, as proposed by Rep. Rodriguez (R.)

and accepted by the Sponsor, there being no

objection, the Body approved the following

amendment between paragraphs 2 and 3 as amended,

to insert the following: THE STATE SHALL

PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHT TO

HEALTH OF WOMEN ESPECIALLY MOTHERS

IN PARTICULAR AND OF THE PEOPLE IN

GENERAL AND INSTILL HEALTH

CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG THEM. THE STATE

SHALL LIKEWISE PROTECT AND ADVANCE

THE RIGHT OF FAMILIES IN PARTICULAR

AND THE PEOPLE IN GENERAL TO A

BALANCED AND HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT

IN ACCORD WITH THE RHYTHM AND

HARMONY OF NATURE.

AMENDMENT OF REP. MANDANAS, AS AMENDED

Rep. Mandanas proposed on lines 19 and 20 of

page 2, to replace the words “WOMEN AND MEN

IN MARGINALIZED HOUSEHOLDS” with the

phrase AND MARGINALIZED FAMILIES.

Rep. Lagman proposed as a compromise the

phrase PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF POOR

WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN, because the

provision is concerned with the inclusion of children.

Rep. Mandanas however stressed that he would

like to give importance to the family pursuant to the

constitutional provision of protecting the family and

not the households.

Rep. Lagman suggested that the amendment

could read as follows: SHALL PRIORITIZE THE

NEEDS OF WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN IN

MARGINALIZED FAMILIES AND HOUSE-

HOLDS to include the intention of Rep. Mandanas.

He added that the word “households” should be re-

tained because the identification of the poor should

be done through the National Household Targeting

System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR). He added

that the sponsoring Committee had already included

what Rep. Mandanas would like to encompass in his

proposed amendment.

Rep. Mandanas maintained that poor women and

children would not be excluded, but pursuant to the

spirit of the Constitution, the sanctity of the family

would be protected and given priority.

Thereupon, as proposed by Rep. Mandanas

which was amended by the Sponsor, there being no

objection, the Body approved on lines 19 and 20 of

page 2, to replace the words “AND SHALL

PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF POOR WOMEN

AND MEN IN MARGINALIZED HOUSEHOLDS”

with the phrase AND SHALL PRIORITIZE THE

NEEDS OF POOR WOMEN, MEN AND

CHILDREN IN MARGINALIZED FAMILIES.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF REP. MANDANAS

Rep. Mandanas next proposed on page 3, line 1,

to replace the words “SHALL BE VOLUNTARY

BENEFICIARIES OF” with the phrase MAY BE

GIVEN THE. He explained that his proposal seeks

to clarify that the RH care services and supplies are

meant to be provided for free to members of

marginalized families who voluntarily ask for the

services and supplies. He argued that as the nation’s

highest policymaking body, Congress should craft

clear and precise policies to prevent other bodies like

the Judiciary from formulating a new policy on the

matter.

The Sponsor rejected the proposal on the ground

that the provision, as worded, already indicates that

the beneficiaries should be voluntary recipients of the

RH program and were identified as marginalized

through the NHTS-PR. He said that the original

provision should be retained because the

implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to be

issued could cover Rep. Mandanas’ concern.

QUERY FROM THE CHAIR

The Chair inquired whether Rep. Mandanas was

insisting on his proposed amendment so the Body

could vote thereon.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY OF REP. PADILLA

To an inquiry of Rep. Carlos M. Padilla, the

Chair replied that the Body had already approved the

first proposed amendment of Rep. Mandanas

regarding the poor women, men and children of

marginalized families. He said that the proposal in

question was the second amendment.


REMARKS OF REP. MANDANAS

In insisting his proposed amendment, Rep.

Mandanas said he only wanted the proposed RH

program to be implemented in an orderly fashion.


Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Lagman

restated his objection to the proposal which he

claimed as redundant.

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON REP. MANDANAS’ PROPOSED AMENDMENT

After Rep. Gonzales (N.) restated the

parliamentary status, the Chair called for a viva voce

voting on the proposed amendment of Rep.

Mandanas on page 3, line 1, to replace the words

“SHALL BE VOLUNTARY BENEFICIARIES OF”

with the phrase MAY BE GIVEN THE.

With the “nays” having preponderance, the

proposed amendment was lost.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF REP. BAGATSING

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Amado S.

Bagatsing proposed on page 3, to recast the provision

on lines 3 to 5 to read as follows: THE STATE

SHALL PROMOTE OPENNESS TO LIFE.

Rep. Lagman rejected the proposed amendment

because the subject provision is just a policy

prescription and has been authored by a Member

whom he cannot name and who may not be amenable

to its deletion.


Rep. Gonzales reminded both Members to focus

the discussion on proposing amendments because the

Body was already through with the period of debate.

He then asked Rep. Bagatsing’s intention after Rep.

Lagman rejected his amendment.

APPEAL OF REP. BAGATSING

Rep. Bagatsing appealed to the Sponsor to

reconsider his proposed amendment as he explained

that the provision, as worded, prohibits the poor to

raise families due to their financial situation. He

added that it was also contrary to the Filipino

tradition of strengthening family ties.


Rep. Lagman reiterated that he cannot accept the

proposed amendment which he opined aims to assure

the people that the State will not pursue an anti-

natalist policy. He stressed anew that the subject

provision, specifically its second portion, is only a

policy prescription.

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON REP. BAGATSING’S PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Thereupon, the Chair called for a viva voce

voting on the proposed amendment of Rep.

Bagatsing on page 3, to recast the provision on lines

3 to 5 to read as follows: THE STATE SHALL

PROMOTE OPENNESS TO LIFE. With majority of

the Members voting against it, the amendment was

lost.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Rodriguez

proposed to delete the entire sentence on page 3,

lines 3 to 5, which Rep. Lagman rejected as the Body

had just sustained the said provision.

In defending his proposal, Rep. Rodriguez

expressed belief that such phrase “to bring forth to

the world only those children” implies pure and

simple population control and should not be placed in

the Bill. He added that it would be redundant

because the Bill already contains a Declaration of

Policy under Section 2 and that it violates Section 2,

Article XV of the Constitution.


as he cannot abandon the formulation of a very

distinguished individual who was with them during

the consultation meeting.

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.) PROPOSED AMENDMENT

The Chair called for a viva voce voting on the

proposed amendment of Rep. Rodriguez to delete the

entire sentence on page 3, lines 3 to 5. With the

“nays” having preponderance, the Body voted down

the amendment.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF REP. MERCADO-REVILLA

Upon recognition by the Chair, Rep. Mercado-

Revilla proposed on page 3, to delete lines 3 to 5 and

be reworded to read as follows: THE STATE

SHALL PROMOTE OPENNESS TO LIFE WEL-

COMING ALL CHILDREN BORN TO MARRIED

COUPLES. UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES CAN

BE REFERRED TO ADOPTION CENTERS IN


THE CARE OF PRIVATE-RELIGIOUS ORGANI-

ZATIONS OR NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZA-

TIONS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF

THE FAMILY. MARRIED COUPLES ARE EN-

COURAGED TO PLAN AND SPACE THE CHIL-

DREN THEY WILL HAVE WITH FULL SUPPORT

FROM THE STATE ON MATTERS PERTAINING

TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RESPONSI-

BLE PARENTHOOD.


because he had an agreement with the proponent of

the particular provision which he cannot abandon.

Rep. Mercado-Revilla expressed hope that the

solution for unintended pregnancies would be to refer

them to adoption centers in the care of private-

religious organizations or nongovernment organiza-

tions to improve the quality of life of the family.

Rep. Lagman stated that there is a law which

covers adoption by private institutions and reiterated

his objection to the proposed amendment to which

Rep. Mercado-Revilla moved to divide the House.

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON REP. MERCADO-REVILLA’S PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Whereupon, the Chair called for a viva voce

voting on the proposed amendment of Rep. Mercado-

Revilla to replace the entire provision on page 3,

lines 3 to 5 with a new provision. With majority of

the Members voting against it, the proposed

amendment was lost.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Recognized by the Chair, Rep. Rodriguez moved

that the Body delete the entire provision on lines 6

and 7 of page 3 because it was redundant.

In rejecting the same, Rep. Lagman stressed that

the redundancy was essential, to which the proponent

yielded.

Rep. Rodriguez next proposed on the same page,

to delete the provision on lines 10 and11 or Section

3(a) because the Bill does not provide freedom of

choice especially among those whose religion do not

believe in contraceptives.

The Sponsor rejected the proposal and pointed

out that freedom of informed choice is the hallmark

of the measure.

Rep. Rodriguez held that the Bill curtails the

freedom of choice to avail of contraceptives that is

already existing. Appealing his amendment, he

pointed out that the proposed amendment does not

reflect the fact that the Bill is a population control

measure; and that the latter would make it a State

policy that the government fund and provide

contraceptives.

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON REP. RODRIGUEZ’ (R.) PROPOSED AMENDMENT

When the Sponsor reiterated his objection, the

Chair called for a viva voce voting on the proposed

amendment of Rep. Rodriguez to delete the provision

on page 3, lines 10 and 11. With the “nays” having

preponderance, the amendment was lost.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OF REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.)

Rep. Rodriguez next proposed on page 3, to

delete Sections 3(b) and 3(d) because both were

already stated in the Declaration of Policy.

The Sponsor did not accept the same, saying they

were very important guiding principles.

ANTERIOR AMENDMENT OF REP. NOGRALES

As proposed by Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles,

there being no objection, the Body approved on page

3, line 17, between the words “of” and “medically”,

to insert the words ETHICAL AND.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF REP. NOGRALES

Rep. Nograles subsequently proposed on the

same page, line 24, to delete the word “modern”.

Rep. Lagman did not accept the same but the

proponent appealed his amendment.

VIVA VOCE VOTING ON REP. NOGRALES’ PROPOSED AMENDMENT

The Chair called for a viva voce voting on Rep.

Nograles’ proposed amendment on page 3, line 24, to

delete the word “MODERN.” With majority of the

Members voting in the negative, the amendment was

lost.


ANTERIOR AMENDMENT OF REP. GOLEZ (R.)

As proposed by Rep. Golez (R.) and accepted by

the Sponsor, there being no objection, the Body

approved on page 3, line 15, between the words

“human development” and “and”, to insert the phrase

SOUND REPLACEMENT RATE and a comma (,).

AMENDMENT OF REP. AUMENTADO

As proposed by Rep. Erico B. Aumentado and

accepted by the Sponsor, there being no objection,

the Body approved on page 4, line 1, between the

words “planning” and “consistent, to insert the

phrase ESPECIALLY THE BILLINGS OVULA-

TION METHOD.

QUESTION OF QUORUM

At this point, Rep. Nograles asked whether there

were enough warm bodies on the floor.



7:55 p.m.




Thereupon, on motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there

being no objection, the Body suspended further

consideration on Second Reading of House Bill No.

4244.


Rep. Garin (J.) acknowledged the presence in the

Session Hall of certain government officials, Ateneo

professors, and former Rep. Risa Hontiveros.

OMNIBUS ADOPTION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS ON CERTAIN HOUSE RESOLUTIONS REQUESTING INQUIRIES IN AID OF LEGISLATION

On an omnibus motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there

being no objection, the Body adopted the following

Committee Reports on certain House Resolutions as

reported out by the Committee on Rules, together

with the amendments, if any, to be referred to the

appropriate Committees indicated therein:

1. Committee Report No. 2499 on House

Resolution No. 2854, directing the Commit-

tee on Legislative Franchises to inquire on

the current status and corporate structure of

Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, a

holder of a legislative franchise under Re-

public Act No. 8954 and determine if there

are possible violations of its franchise;




the current status and corporate structure of

Radio Philippines Network, Inc. (RPN 9), a

holder of a legislative franchise under Re-

public Act No. 9250 and determine if there

are possible violations of its franchise; and




the possible negligence of the National

Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to

oversee probable violation of Bayantel of its

franchise under Republic Act No. 7633

through its nonuse of assigned frequencies

for more than a year, and on the apparent

abuse of discretion by NTC on its grant of

Globe Telecommunications’ co-use of the

Bayantel frequencies and determine if such

action is disadvantageous to the govern-

ment.


The session was suspended at 8:13 p.m., upon

motion of Rep. Garin (J.).



ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION

Thereafter, on motion of Rep. Garin (J.), there

being no objection, the Chair declared the session

adjourned until four o’clock in the afternoon of

Monday, December 10, 2012.

It was 8:15 p.m., Wednesday, December 5, 2012.

----------------------------------------------------------------

I hereby certify to the correctness of the

foregoing.

(Sgd.) ATTY. MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP

Secretary General


DOCUMENTS DISTRIBUTED

Printed copies of the following measures were

distributed to the Members during the session:

1. House Bill No. 6713, entitled:

“AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN NATION-

BUILDING THROUGH THE INSTITU-

TIONALIZATION OF A STRATEGIC

VOLUTEERISM BASED MULTI-

SECTORAL PUBLIC-PRIVATE PART-

NERSHIP FRAMEWORK IN ALL LOCAL

GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs) AND

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN THE

COUNTRY AND FOR OTHER PUR-

POSES' ”

2. House Bill No. 6417, entitled:

“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF AL-

CANTARA NATIONAL TRADE SCHOOL

TO ROMBLON NATIONAL INSTITUTE

OF TECHNOLOGY’”

Approved on December 11, 2012

(Appendix I) Congress of the Philippines House of Representatives Quezon City, Philippines

RECORD OF ATTENDANCE

Date: DECEMBER 3 TO 5, 2012

ABAD ABAYON ACHARON ACOP AGGABAO AGLIPAY AGYAO ALBANO ALCALA ALCOVER ALMARIO ALMONTE ALVAREZ (A.) ALVAREZ (M.) AMANTE-MATBA AMATONG ANGARA ANGPING ANTONINO ANTONIO APACIBLE APOSTOL AQUINO ARAGO ARENAS ARNAIZ ARQUIZA ARROYO ASILO AUMENTADO BAG-AO BAGASINA BAGATSING BAGUILAT BANAL BARZAGA BATAOIL BATOCABE BAUTISTA BELLO BELMONTE (F.) BELMONTE (V.) BERNOS BIAZON BICHARA

BINAY BONDOC BONOAN-DAVID BULUT-BEGTANG CABALUNA CABILAO YAMBAO CAJAYON CALIMBAS-VILLAROSA CALIXTO-RUBIANO CANONIGO CARI CASIÑO CASTELO CASTRO CATAMCO CELESTE CERAFICA CERILLES CHIPECO CLIMACO CO COJUANGCO (E.) COJUANGCO (K.) COLLANTES COLMENARES CORTUNA COSALAN CRISOLOGO CRUZ-GONZALES CUA DALOG DATUMANONG DAYANGHIRANG DAZA DE JESUS DE VENECIA DEFENSOR DEL MAR DEL ROSARIO (A. A.) DEL ROSARIO (A. G.) DIMAPORO (F.) DIMAPORO (I.) DUAVIT DY EBDANE

EJERCITO EMANO ENVERGA ERIGUEL ESPINA ESTRELLA FARIÑAS FERRER (A.) FERRER (J.) FERRIOL FLORES FORTUNO FUENTEBELLA FUENTES GARAY GARBIN GARCIA (A.) GARCIA (P.) GARCIA (P.J.) GARCIA-ALBANO GARIN (J.) GARIN (S.) GATCHALIAN (R.) GATCHALIAN (W.) GO (A.C.) GO (A.) GOLEZ (R.) GOMEZ GONZALES (A.) GONZALES (N.) GONZALEZ GUANLAO GULLAS GUNIGUNDO HARESCO HATAMAN-SALLIMAN HERRERA-DY ILAGAN JALOSJOS (C.) JALOSJOS (R.) JALOSJOS (S.) JAVIER JOSON KHO (D.) LABADLABAD

LACSON-NOEL LAGDAMEO (A.) LAGDAMEO (M.) LAGMAN LANETE LEDESMA LEONEN-PIZARRO LICO LIMKAICHONG LOPEZ (C.) LOPEZ (C.J.) LOYOLA MACAPAGAL ARROYO (J.) MADRONA MAGSAYSAY (E.) MAGSAYSAY (M.) MALAPITAN MANDANAS MARANAN MARAÑON MARCOLETA MARCOS MARIANO MATUGAS MELLANA MENDOZA (J.) MENDOZA (M.) MENDOZA (R.) MERCADO (R.) MERCADO-REVILLA MIRAFLORES MIRASOL MONTEJO NAVA NOEL NOGRALES OBILLO OCAMPO OCAMPOS OLIVAREZ

ONG ORTEGA (F.) ORTEGA (V.) OSMEÑA PADILLA PAEZ PALATINO PALMONES PANCHO PANGANDAMAN (M.) PANGANDAMAN (N.) PANOTES PARAS PAYUYO PIAMONTE PICHAY PLAZA PONCE-ENRILE PRIMICIAS-AGABAS PUNO QUIMBO QUISUMBING RADAZA RAMOS RELAMPAGOS REMULLA RIVERA ROBES RODRIGUEZ (M.) RODRIGUEZ (R.) ROMAN ROMUALDEZ ROMULO SACDALAN SAHIDULLA SAKALURAN SALIMBANGON SALVACION SAMBAR SAN LUIS

SARMIENTO (C.) SARMIENTO (M.) SEMA SINGSON (E.) SINGSON (R.L.) SOCRATES SUAREZ SY-ALVARADO SYJUCO TAN TAÑADA TEODORO TEVES TIANGCO TIENG TING TINGA TINIO TOMAWIS TREÑAS TUGNA TUPAS TY UMALI (C.) UMALI (R.) UNABIA UNGAB UNICO VALENCIA VARGAS-ALFONSO VELARDE VELASCO VILLAFUERTE VILLAR VILLARICA VIOLAGO YAP (S.) YU ZAMORA ZUBIRI

journal no. 37 monday to wednesday, december 3 to … · · 2012-12-17journal no. 37 monday to...

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