Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. today said the Arroyo government has no moral authority to denounce the repression of human rights by the military junta in Myanmar as long as it tolerates a similar undemocratic practice in the Philippines as exemplified by the arbitrary detention of 43 health workers.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. urged today the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Health (DOH) and the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) to investigate reports that the health of Filipino consumers is being put in grave danger by the sale of pan de sal made from contaminated and potentially toxic Turkish flour. At the same time, Pimentel asked the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to look into reports of technical smuggling of the commodity into the country.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. said today it would be a grievous mistake and a dangerous gesture for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to defy the authority of the Commission on Human Rights to investigate allegations of human rights violations by refusing to present the 43 health workers that it has placed under detention for alleged involvement in rebellious activities.

It’s a big blow against the rule of law. Another blight on the armour of the Supreme Court as an institution.

Almost two months before the May 10 national and local elections, what has the government done to dismantle private armies being maintained by political warlords?

The Philippines should focus on developing renewable energy sources, which abound in the country, instead of reviving the potentially-dangerous nuclear power plant in Limay, Bataan, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. said today.

PASIG CITY -- Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. today called on parents and the government to take the initiative in preventing the youth from being tempted to use the internet for wrongful and immoral purposes.

Cabinet members who are running for elective posts were urged yesterday not to hang on to their posts by resorting to legal technicalities.

Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. today sought a Senate probe of the complaints of customs brokers about alleged extortion activities by certain officials of the Bureau of Customs under the guise of election-related fund-raising drive.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV should be allowed to attend the sessions of the next Congress with half of his six-year term already gone and after being jailed for more than six years without being convicted of the criminal charges filed against him, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. said today.