Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)

By ELLSON QUISMORIO

Wait just a little bit longer.

This was Santa Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez's message to Philippine National Police (PNP) members after President Marcos vetoed the proposed measure that sought to introduce organizational reforms in the PNP.

"I hope yung ating mga kapulisan ay medyo, alam ko naiinip na sila, konting tiis na lang po, at basically baka maayos na po natin to after the talk with the Speaker," Fernandez, chairman of the House Committee on Public Order, told reporters on Monday, July 15.

(I hope that our police force, I know that they're antsy, but just a little bit longer and this could get resolved after the talk with the Speaker.)

It was the Fernandez committee that the proposed measure was referred to and was then evaluated and debated by House members.

The House approved last year House Bill (HB) No. 8327, which sought to amend certain sections in Republic Act (RA) No. 6975, or the Department of the Interior And Local Government Act of 1990; and RA No. 8551, or the Philippine National Police Reform And Reorganizational Act of 1998.

Last week, it was reported that President Marcos vetoed HB No. 8327 and its counterpart Senate Bill (SB) No. 2449.

Fernandez and House Speaker Martin Romualdez have had initial talks on the matter, particularly on what to do next.

"I've spoken with the Speaker and we've been talking about it, yung sa restructuring ng PNP (on the restructuring of the PNP) which we worked so hard [on].

"Basically, kung vineto na yun ng Presidente, anong action that will be taken by Congress? (If it had been vetoed by the President, what action will be taken by Congress?) It's either we override the veto or talk about if or refile it," he said.

But the Laguna congressman remained hopeful that a positive resolution could be reached.

"Of course the Speaker and the committee will talk about it para malaman natin kung ano yung askyon na gagawin (so that we'll know what action will be taken). Remember, 16 years na yan yung sa structure ng PNP (Remember, the PNP structure has been there for 16 years) and never been so close in approving that restructure," said the movie actor-turned-congressman.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the House and the Senate may reconsider the bill. Once it gets approval from two-thirds of the vote from both chambers, the bill becomes law.