02:00.0
...the said pharmaceutical agency were present.
02:03.7
And of course, I would also like to thank Senator Bongo for his appropriate action,
02:08.3
for his motto-proprio action in conducting the hearing right away.
02:13.7
But the rules are rules. May I know from the majority leader, did we violate any rule, a three-day rule?
02:21.2
Because we just delivered a privileged speech yesterday.
02:27.1
And again, I was surprised.
02:30.0
I was surprised why the stakeholders or shareholders of Belkens Pharmaceutical Agency were already present, Mr. Chair.
02:38.8
Nabanggit kasi itong issue na ito, April 2, it was brought up by Senator Rafi Tulfo about this practice, no?
02:47.7
So kaya ginawa natin, motto-proprio inquiry in aid of legislation on the rights of patients to appropriate medical care information
03:00.0
and informed consent focusing on the prescription of medicines.
03:04.9
Napag-usapan na po itong issue na ito noong April 2.
03:08.8
It was brought up by Senator Tulfo at lumaki lang siya.
03:13.7
Last week, it was mentioned sa interview yata ni Senator JB.
03:19.4
That's why nag-issue po ang committee ng invitation, April 24.
03:32.2
24 ang notice and then yung mga...
03:36.3
Juno yung received naman ng mga senators, officers, commissary.
03:39.7
Mr. President, with due respect, what was the notice for?
03:45.3
Because from my understanding, the notice that was posted is regarding bullying in the, was it hospital setting?
03:56.0
That was the notice we received.
04:00.0
It is possible that a senator who is not inclined to attend a hearing on bullying would not attend,
04:09.9
not knowing that there's going to be another topic taken up.
04:12.9
I think that is the important point that we should be discussing, Mr. President.
04:17.8
What is the point of a notice if matters beyond the notice are going to be taken up intentionally?
04:25.8
Of course, kung nabanggit and then the chairman, you know, on the side is,
04:30.0
bakit tuloy lang yung issue na yun.
04:31.5
But to intentionally have a hearing on a subject matter that is not contained in the notice,
04:38.5
and we have sometimes six hearings simultaneously going on, and we have other obligations,
04:44.6
how would we know, Mr. President, how do we properly inform ourselves?
04:50.1
Because that is the purpose of a notice, Mr. President.
04:52.5
You're absolutely correct.
04:53.6
But to just give the proper information to the body,
04:56.9
I have a copy of the notice of inquiry.
04:59.8
So it's a proper notification of the health committee in its sections under letter C.
05:07.3
Under letter C of its notice,
05:09.1
moto-appropriate and coordinated legislation on the rights of patients
05:11.7
to appropriate medical care, etc., etc.
05:14.2
So it's one long paragraph.
05:15.9
So nabanggit naman dun sa kanyang notice.
05:18.4
In other words, proper naman yung procedure.
05:20.8
Pasok po siya, Mr. President.
05:24.1
Pasok siya sa rules natin.
05:26.6
Salamat, Mr. President.
05:27.5
Yeah, very clear.
05:29.0
As far as I'm concerned,
05:29.8
Of course, I will not debate with my majority leader, but as a former majority leader myself, three times, I can see that the rules in this particular case were followed.
05:40.7
I think, Mr. President, it's also important to note that if it happened during the hearing without being part of the notice given to the members, the three-day rule, that's a different story, Mr. President.
05:55.0
So, again, the speeches delivered yesterday were not referred yet, but we can dispense and refer it, Mr. President.
06:06.3
You can make the motion, Your Honor.
06:07.5
We can do it now.
06:09.3
Mr. President, I understand. Unfortunately, I agree. I note that the rights of patients is in the agenda.
06:23.3
But the privileged speech.
06:25.0
The two privileged speeches were not referred.
06:28.2
So how would a senator know that that specific topic, and as mentioned by one of the sponsors, the complete set of officers were there?
06:37.3
How would the senator know that that whole agenda would be covered today?
06:42.3
Kung nadaanan, okay lang.
06:44.3
But that whole topic was there.
06:46.5
And even the sponsor was shocked that they were complete.
06:50.2
It's a good thing he had decided to attend because yung buong scope ng kanyang topic,
06:56.6
And then, last point I'd like to raise, Mr. President.
07:09.3
Under Rule 10, section 13, which is the enumeration of the powers of the different committees,
07:25.0
it says, on accountability of public officers and investigations.
07:30.4
It says here, investigation of any matter of public interest on its own initiative or brought to its attention by any member of the Senate.
07:39.3
So it is only the Blue Ribbon Committee, Mr. President, that has that phrase under its own initiatives.
07:46.3
And for the 17 years that I've been a senator,
07:52.8
I filed resolutions in my own committee following these rules because my understanding is it's only the Blue Ribbon Committee on its own initiative.
08:03.2
Of course, in a time of emergency, we are on break.
08:06.0
Of course, we will not stop the Committee on Energy to have a hearing.
08:11.8
But what is the purpose of this on its own initiative under the Blue Ribbon Committee powers if everybody else can do it?
08:19.7
Hindi ko po sinaswapang yun.
08:21.7
E di palitan natin.
08:22.6
Let's understand.
08:23.1
What is our intention?
08:24.6
Because we just have to be clear about the rules.
08:26.6
We are an institution governed by rules so that we can do our job properly.
08:31.5
So I humbly submit that we submit these queries to the Committee on Rules so that they can discuss it with our legal,
08:40.6
our luminaries, our experience heads, and then properly guide us, Mr. President.
08:47.7
But just for the record, we amended the rules of procedure governing inquiries of the Native,
08:52.3
in Native legislation, Your Honor.
08:54.6
And under Section 2, Initiation of Inquiry, it's very clear.
08:58.3
It used to be, I recall, it used to be the Blue Ribbon Committee, moto proprio.
09:03.1
Actually, immediately, even not following the three-day rule, pwede yun.
09:07.2
Parang immediate yung investigation on its own.
09:11.1
However, we amended and strengthened the rules of procedure and added the Section 2.
09:15.8
So, if you wish, we can have the Committee on Rules come up with the legal and the,
09:22.3
the correct and final decision on this particular issue.
09:30.3
So we can refer to the Committee on Rules to come up with a decision.
09:33.3
Yes, Mr. President, we admire and respect the issues raised in today's session.
09:41.0
And, you know, there's always room for improvement, Mr. President.
09:44.5
And as we are talking about some other matters, Mr. President, with regard to our rules,
09:50.4
we can always look into it and study.
09:52.3
Further and improve as much as we can, Mr. President, in order to give our best service to our country and people.
09:60.0
And yes, and just to add, Majority Leader, just to add.
10:06.3
May gulanong salita na ang ibig sabihin dito ay ang pagkakaisa.
10:12.5
Bunyog Partylist!
10:14.4
Halika na! Halika na! Bunyog Partylist ka na!
10:20.2
Halika na! Halika na! Bunyog Partylist!
10:22.3
Bunyog Partylist ka na!
10:23.2
Sa susunod, ang atinang suportahan, Bunyog Partylist,
10:28.3
nagtataguyod ng katotohanan, lumalaban para sa bayan.
