The National People’s Coalition (NPC) is still waiting for Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s decision on his possible bid for a higher position in next year's elections.
Senate rejects bicam version of BFP modernization bill
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endIndex: The Senate on Thursday voted to reject the bicameral conference version of the bill that seeks to modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) over disagreements on a provision allowing firefighters to carry weapons. (FILE PHOTO)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 3) The Senate on Thursday voted to reject the bicameral conference version of the bill that seeks to modernize or strengthen the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) over disagreements on a provision allowing firefighters to carry weapons.
With a 11-8-3 vote, the measure will be sent back to the bicameral conference committee, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said during the plenary session. The chamber needed 12 affirmative votes to ratify the committee report. Sotto said the Senate will request the House of Representatives to form a new panel to review the measure.
Senate of the Philippines (Senate PRIB)
Sotto and Villar later made peace after the heated exchange during the chamber’s discussion on the bicameral conference committee report on the bill seeking to modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the ratification of which was rejected over the insertion of an amendment that would authorize firemen to purchase and bear guns.
It began when Villar asked to clarify how the Senate voted on the motion to adopt and ratify the bicam report, and if the vote of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go had been included in the count.
Go, who was not in plenary or online during the voting, would have agreed to ratify the bill since he was also the proponent of arming firefighters.
“Mr. Senate President, I am not talking of Mr. Go now. I’m just talking that you always say that ‘you should be here.’ How can we be there? We’re seniors. We’re not allowed to get out of our home. Maswerte ka na senior ka, nandiyan ka, pinapayagan ka,” Villar said.