Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the proposal of newly-installed party-list Rep. Jovito Palparan to resurrect the Anti-Subversion Law is a retrogressive move that will only alienate cause-oriented or progressive groups and will not solve communist insurgency in the country.

The minority will present a number of amendments to the rules of the Senate committee of the whole during its third meeting today to ensure that Sen. Manuel Villar’s right to due process is not impaired when it investigates the ethics complaint against him.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the amendments to the law on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) should be in place before the lapse of its six-month extension period on June 30.

The Senate has complimented firemen for their “efficient and professional response” in quickly putting out a fire that broke out at a handicraft shop, which prevented it from spreading out to nearby buildings and saved properties and lives.

Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) today called on the Senate and House of Representatives to work for the early approval of the package of amendments to the law on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program so that the final version of the measure can be passed on May 15 and sent to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for signing into law before the sine die adjournment on June 5.

It means she is unable to enforce the law through the AFP and the PNP. She has to bribe other people to implement the law. By asking congressmen to contribute funds, she is slyly passing the buck to Congress for a job that belongs to her.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the refusal of investigation witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada to post bail after a Manila Regional Trial Court ordered his arrest was intended to prove that he is being subjected to harassment by the Arroyo administration which has redied a total of 16 charges against him in reprisal for his role in exposing the fraudulent $329 million national broadband network-ZTE project.

The minority bloc is seeking the adoption of certain amendments to the rules of the Senate committee of the whole before it proceeds with the investigation of the complaint against Sen. Manuel Villar.

Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) today expressed the hope that Senator Manuel Villar can be persuaded to cooperate with the probe of the complaint against him with the decision of the majority senators to transfer such task from the ethics committee to the Senate committee of the whole.

Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the Senate is duty-bound to support and protect NBN-ZTE witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada but not to the extent of being perceived as encroaching on the jurisdiction of the court over any complaint against him.