By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III questioned on Thursday the House of Representatives’ move withdrawing its approved bill on the abolition of the graft-ridden Road Board.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)
Pimentel, in a statement, protested the congressmen’s decision to recall the final reading for the passage of House Bill 7436, which seeks the abolition of the Road Board, an agency repeatedly flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA).
He said the Lower House’s revocation of the measure was “legally questionable.”
“The Lower House cannot just inform us later that they changed their minds and tell us the House version has ceased to exist anymore. The Senate actually made adjustments and approved their version already because we wanted immediate passage of a law addressing the Road Board,” Pimentel said.
Last September 12, the House voted to recant the approval on final reading of HB 7436, following a manifestation from Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr.
This was shortly after the Senate decided to adopt the House Bill and replace Senate Bill 1620, to dispense the need for a bicameral conference between the two Congress chambers.