GOOD FENCES, GOOD NEIGHBORS
SENATE President Francis Chiz Escudero said it is high time the Senate and the House of Representatives reconnected as a co-equal body as he confirmed that House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez extended his congratulations to him.
Escudero, who described Romualdez as a gentleman who will always listen to reason, said they will meet next week and he would want to mend the relations between the Senate and the House, and to reestablish the protocols of interparliamentary courtesy as an equal and separate bodies.
“Si Speaker Martin Romualdez ay isang maginoo. Nagkasabay kami sa College of Law sa University of the Philippines, but I think mas ahead siya ng konti sa akin. And knowing him as a person, walang masamang tinapay sa kanya. Marunong makinig si speaker and he is a very reasonable man.” Escudero said.
Escudero added that he will also discuss with Speaker Romualdez the many important legislative priorities which both houses must tackle for the good the country.
He will review the five legislative priorities of each senator which was submitted to then Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and match it to the legislative priorities of the President and the House and also come up with a Senate legislative agenda which are doable.
Escudero did not deny that what happened in the past (during the time of Sen. Zubiri) ,between the two houses that affected the work relationship of members of both Congress which he insisted must finally end.
“Time to mend. Ang gusto namin ni Speaker ay ayusin ang aming mga relasyon because it is not proper, and it is not right to exchange unparliamentary words. Hindi magandang pakinggan na magpapalitan kami ng maaanghang na salita sa isat isa,” Escudero said as he explained the need to maintain interparliamentary courtesy.
