Alyansa bets bare bills they intend to file
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Should they land a Senate seat in May, senatorial candidates of the administration's Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas vowed to push several measures, including a bill seeking to strip government officials and employees of bank secrecy protection. During a press briefing on Tuesday here, the Alyansa bets enumerated the first bill they would file should they win the Senate race. Former senator Panfilo Lacson said he would refile a measure that would require all public officials, from low-ranking employees to the highest office in the land, to waive their rights under the Bank Secrecy Act. "I have filed this bill in past Congresses, and I will file it again. This will cover everyone in government, from clerks and janitors to the president," Lacson said. His proposal aims to expose potential ill-gotten wealth by allowing authorities to flag suspicious transactions early. Lacson pointed to the case of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, whose bank records allegedly showed billions of pesos in transfers between 2018 and 2024. Former Senate president Tito Sotto said he would propose bills that would restrict "fake news" and institutionalize a 14th month pay for all employees. Makati Mayor Abby Binay said that she would push for tax exemption for the 13th month pay— and if Sotto's bill would be approved — for 14th month incentives. Former interior secretary Benhur Abalos said he would suggest amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991, as there are some local government units that could not afford to build schools or hospitals without support from the national government. Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said he would file a measure aiming to remove the 12 percent value-added tax on electricity and internet services to ease the financial burdens on Filipino households and businesses, while former senator Manny Pacquiao said he would push for a bill boosting micro, small and medium enterprises to generate jobs. Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar said she would push for a bill strengthening industries that generate jobs like construction, infrastructure and tourism industries, while ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo said he would file a measure mandating PhilHealth to pay 50 percent of every hospital bill and a bill providing sustainable livelihood programs. In the same press conference, four administration senatorial candidates aired similar opinions on asserting sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea. Tolentino said he joined the administration's alliance because he believed that the right approach to addressing the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea was through multilateral and not bilateral efforts. "We are united with the view of President Marcos that the approach should be multilateral, not just Philippines and China," he said. Tolentino also mentioned the passage of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law, which he sponsored in the Senate. Sotto said he was the original proponent of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law in the Senate and expressed satisfaction that his proposal was enacted into law during the 19th Congress. "We cannot leave it to the interpretation of Unclos... We needed to have a clear interpretation and for us to declare it," Sotto said. "And they passed it, President Marcos signed it into law. That's why I was thanking him for doing that. So it's a matter of implementing it well at this point," he added. Speaking about the issue for the first time, Abalos said the Philippines should remember that the West Philippine Sea was already declared to be part of our territory by The Hague and echoed Tolentino's position on a multilateral approach in addressing issues in the area. "We won in the tribunal, and that victory is ours. It should not be given to others; this is ours. And from there, there is the multilateral approach that our government should adopt," he said. Tulfo said the Philippines should fight for its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, upholding Marcos' earlier statement that his administration would not give even a square inch of its territory.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Should they land a Senate seat in May, senatorial candidates of the administration's Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas vowed to push several measures, including a bill seeking to strip government officials and employees of bank secrecy protection.
During a press briefing on Tuesday here, the Alyansa bets enumerated the first bill they would file should they win the Senate race.
Former senator Panfilo Lacson said he would refile a measure that would require all public officials, from low-ranking employees to the highest office in the land, to waive their rights under the Bank Secrecy Act.
"I have filed this bill in past Congresses, and I will file it again. This will cover everyone in government, from clerks and janitors to the president," Lacson said.
His proposal aims to expose potential ill-gotten wealth by allowing authorities to flag suspicious transactions early.
Lacson pointed to the case of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, whose bank records allegedly showed billions of pesos in transfers between 2018 and 2024.
Former Senate president Tito Sotto said he would propose bills that would restrict "fake news" and institutionalize a 14th month pay for all employees.
Makati Mayor Abby Binay said that she would push for tax exemption for the 13th month pay— and if Sotto's bill would be approved — for 14th month incentives.
Former interior secretary Benhur Abalos said he would suggest amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991, as there are some local government units that could not afford to build schools or hospitals without support from the national government.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said he would file a measure aiming to remove the 12 percent value-added tax on electricity and internet services to ease the financial burdens on Filipino households and businesses, while former senator Manny Pacquiao said he would push for a bill boosting micro, small and medium enterprises to generate jobs.
Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar said she would push for a bill strengthening industries that generate jobs like construction, infrastructure and tourism industries, while ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo said he would file a measure mandating PhilHealth to pay 50 percent of every hospital bill and a bill providing sustainable livelihood programs.
In the same press conference, four administration senatorial candidates aired similar opinions on asserting sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.
Tolentino said he joined the administration's alliance because he believed that the right approach to addressing the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea was through multilateral and not bilateral efforts.
"We are united with the view of President Marcos that the approach should be multilateral, not just Philippines and China," he said.
Tolentino also mentioned the passage of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law, which he sponsored in the Senate.
Sotto said he was the original proponent of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law in the Senate and expressed satisfaction that his proposal was enacted into law during the 19th Congress.
"We cannot leave it to the interpretation of Unclos... We needed to have a clear interpretation and for us to declare it," Sotto said.
"And they passed it, President Marcos signed it into law. That's why I was thanking him for doing that. So it's a matter of implementing it well at this point," he added.
Speaking about the issue for the first time, Abalos said the Philippines should remember that the West Philippine Sea was already declared to be part of our territory by The Hague and echoed Tolentino's position on a multilateral approach in addressing issues in the area.
"We won in the tribunal, and that victory is ours. It should not be given to others; this is ours. And from there, there is the multilateral approach that our government should adopt," he said.
Tulfo said the Philippines should fight for its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, upholding Marcos' earlier statement that his administration would not give even a square inch of its territory.
