Monday, September 24, 2012

Sotto, Estrada deny pressuring Trillanes


From: inquirer.net

Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has denied pressuring Sen. Antonio Trillanes to withdraw his interpellation on  the Camsur Bill..

“I simply asked him, ‘Sonny (Trillanes’ nickname), huwag na lang nating i-hostage ang bill.  Huwag na nating patagalin since this is also for the people of Camarines Sur’ (Let’s not keep the bill ‘hostage’ anymore. Let’s not delay it because this is for the people of Camarines Sur),” Estrada said.

Estrada said he assured Trillanes that he would not be deprived of his right to interpellate since even if the CamSur bill was approved on second reading, he would still be given a chance to interpellate before the Senate approved the measure on  third and final reading.

Sotto confirmed that he also talked to Trillanes on the phonem and proposed that the CamSur bill be moved past its second reading.

Sotto said the move would ease the lobby on the Senate leadership and still allow  Trillanes to interpellate on Sept. 18 or 19. ”

“I was pointblank. I told (Trillanes) if he wanted the bill rejected, we will not be in the way and may even be able to help.  But we have to follow the rules of Congress, considering this is a local bill,” Sotto said,

But instead of listening, Sotto said Trillanes “accused me of some sort of game plan.  That’s why I gave back the phone to Bongbong (Marcos) and said, ‘I can’t talk to (Trillanes).’”

A pending reservation to interpellate bars the Senate from approving a bill.

On Wednesday, Trillanes delivered a privilege speech denouncing Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for alleged “bullying” to get the CamSur bill passed. ###

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