Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri. INQUIRER file photo / LYN RILLON
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has blamed the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) on why President Rodrigo Duterte almost vetoed the coco levy fund bill.
鈥淎ng problema kasi natin diyan, mga kapatid. Itong problema ng majority floor leader, mahina po yung PLLO po natin,鈥� Zubiri told reporters on Tuesday.
Earlier, Congress has decided to recall the coco levy fund bill, which has been ratified already by both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Zubiri revealed that the said bill should have been up for Duterte鈥檚 signature on Monday but was suddenly removed from the agenda.
READ: Congress recalls coco levy bill
He noted that the possible veto of the President could have been averted if the PLLO has been on top of the situation during 鈥渋mportant measures such as this鈥� and communicated with Malaca帽ang regarding its concerns on the said bill.
鈥淲ith all due respect to Sec. Sitoy, who is a good friend of mine, matalik kong kaibigan聽 iyan, malapit ako sa pamilya nila sa Cebu. Pero, sa totoo lang, this could have been averted kung may nagbabantay na PLLO during the important measures such as this. And, to explain to Malaca帽ang itong gusto nila 鈥� ok ba kayo dito?鈥� Zubiri said, referring to PLLO Secretary Adelino Sitoy.
鈥淜asi kung may parameters po sila, hindi aabot sa ganitong magkakaroon ng veto. Very important ang PLLO. So, with all due respect to Sec. Sitoy, maybe he is suited for another office. Maybe he is not suited for the PLLO, kasi hindi natin siya nakikita, hindi siya kilala ng mga senador,鈥� he added.
He also said that eight senators, including him, have complained to Duterte regarding the PLLO secretary.
Zubiri has requested for an emergency meeting with the President on Monday immediately after learning that Duterte may veto the said measure.
鈥淵esterday, we complained to the President. We were eight senators and ang sabi po ni Sen. [Cynthia] Villar (author of the bill) was鈥inasa namin ito, wala naman kayong kibo鈥nd yan yung mga secretaries鈥ala naman kayong kibo,鈥� he said.
Senator Richard Gordon, according to Zubiri, said that the problem lies on the weak liaison in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The senate majority leader pointed out that there is a need for a 鈥渕ore effective PLLO officer who can liaison all these problems.鈥�
鈥淵ung undersecretary lang ang nagpapakita, pero yung undersecretary, for example, yung si Undersecretary Gallardo, he鈥檚 very good, pero he can鈥檛 have the effect of the Secretary na who can liaison between Malacanang and the Senators and the Congressmen,鈥� he said referring to Antonio Gallardo, presidential legislative assistant for the Senate under the PLLO. /jpv