House re-elected their leaders
24 July 2007- The 14th Congress opened retaining the same leadership when Pangasinan representative Jose de Venecia was voted Speaker of the House by 159 out of the 206 members present during the first plenary session in 23 July. De Venecia is the only representative who headed the chamber five times (9th, 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th Congress). The post was hotly contested by Cebu representative Pablo Garcia. Ironically, it was a fellow Cebu congressman, Antonio Cuenco who nominated for De Venecia.

Prior to the speakership vote, the “opposition” made a manifestation to allow them to vote for their minority leader. This post was later won by San Juan representative Ronaldo Zamora. Under the House Rules, the second highest vote for speakership will automatically be named the minority leader.

In the Senate, re-electionist Senator Manny Villar was likewise elected for another term as Senate president. He got 15 votes against seven of Senator Aquilino Pimentel who was named Minority leader post. Senator Villar first held the position through a term sharing with then Senator Franklin Drilon at the start of the 3rd regular session of the 13th Congress on 24 July 2006. Senator Pia Cayetano nominated Senator Villar and was seconded by Senator Pangilinan.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was absent during the session because he is under military detention. Notwithstanding, 18 senators filed a resolution supporting the move to allow Senator Trillanes to post a bail to be able to perform his mandate.


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Report No. 138
Unfinished Business

The 14th Congress opened with much controversy as with any session following an election, moreso, one that had an equally controversial precedent.

The 13th Congress was hounded by issues related to the controversial 2004 presidential elections which were marred by accusations that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo rigged the elections. Her allies at the House of Representatives successfully blocked the two impeachment attempts against her, the first in 2005 and the second in 2006. Read more >>



Report No. 137
Buckles to Work

Despite criticisms for arduously doing their oversight function, the Senate managed to pass 23 measures before going on a Lenten break last 13 March. On the other hand, the House passed 19 bills of national application and 32 local bills, which mostly seeks to establish national high schools in different localities. Read more >>

Keep track of important economic- or business-related bills in 16 key sectors: Agriculture, Banking, Demographics (Population, Health, Education), Environment, Governance, Industry, Information & Communication Technology, Investments, Labor, Property, Public Finance, Tourism, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities [energy, power, water].