Osmeña to stop filibustering

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III said yesterday he will stop his filibustering after Senate President Pro Tempore Manuel Villar and Majority Floor Leader Loren Legarda agreed to defer their election as chairpersons of two committees each.

Osmeña, in a phone interview, said he will ask other members of the Senate minority not to raise any objections to the nomination of 23 committee chairmanships for the majority.

He, however, insisted that Villar’s chairmanship of the agriculture committee be given only after a unanimous vote.

Osmeña threatened though to continue his filibustering should Villar and Legarda each chair two committees.

Osmeña’s uninterrupted talk for three days last week stalled the election of committee chairmanships. He and other minority senators argued that allowing Villar and Legarda to head two committees each would violate the chamber’s rules and traditions.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said those delaying the Senate organization and the tackling of bills will be answerable to their conscience and the people.

Drilon said the Senate has to rush the passage of an anti-money laundering law to beat the Sept. 30 deadline which an international task force has given the Philippines. — Aurea Calica