Resolution urging override of SSS veto pushed in Senate

Senator Franchis “Chiz” Escudero. PHOTO BY ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

A resolution, expressing the sense of the Senate to override President Benigno Aquino III’s veto on a bill seeking a P2,000 across-the-board increase for Social Security System (SSS) pensioners, is now being routed among senators, Senator Francis Escudero said on Wednesday.

But Escudero, who earlier called his colleagues in Congress to override the President’s veto on the pension hike, said the resolution has not yet obtained the signatures of 16 senators before it is transmitted to the plenary for adoption.

“Hindi ko aangkining resolution ‘yun, pag inangkin ko ‘yun baka maraming hindi pumirma. ‘Yung authors po nu’n ‘yung mga pipirma,” he said at a joint press conference in Cavite.

(I won’t claim that resolution, if I claim it, many might not sign. Its authors would be the ones to sign.)

READ: Congress urged to override Aquino’s veto on pension hike

‘Pero may pinapaikot po kaming resolusyon na hindi pa nakakakalap ng sapat na pirma. Siguro ‘pag nasagad na namin lahat ng kayang makuhang pirma, du’n na lamang namin siguro ilalabas to be fair to those na hindi pa nabibigyan ng tsansa na ilagay ‘yung pirma nila.”

“Unfair kasing ilabas na hindi pa naman nakikita ng lahat. Baka sabihin napilitan na lang dahil may lumabas. Pantay-pantay at sama-sama ko sanang gustong matanong ang lahat kaugnay nito kung talagang pipirma ba sila sa sense of the Senate resolution,” Escudero added.

(But we are circulating a resolution that has not garnered sufficient signatures yet. Perhaps when we have exhausted all who can sign, that’s the time when we would release it to be fair to those who had not had the chance yet to affix their signatures.

It would be unfair to release it if it hasn’t been seen by everyone. Some might say that they were coerced because it has already been filed. I would like to ask equally and concurrently ask all involved if they would really sign the sense of the Senate resolution.)

Besides, he said, the override should emanate from the House of the Representatives being “the house of origin” of the proposed measure before the Senate could make a similar move.

The House and Senate, voting separately, need to get two-thirds of votes to override a measure.

Escudero assured that in the Senate, it would not be difficult to get a quorum if they have to vote whether or not to override the President’s veto.

“Mas problema ang quorum sa House of Representatives kasi kulang kulang 300 sila at ang kinakailangang boto para ma-override ‘yung veto: 190 congressmen more or less,” he said.

“Sa quorum nila ni hindi yata sila nakakarating ng 190. Paano pa ‘yung botong 190 kung saka-sakali? Pero ika nga kung (ayaw, mayroong dahilan) pero kung gusto palaging may paraan. Sana ‘wag ayaw at maghanap na lamang ng dahilan,” the senator added.

(The quorum would be a bigger problem in the House of Representatives because they number more or less 300 and it would require 190 congressmen to vote more or less.

In their quorum, they don’t even reach 190. What more 190 votes if ever? But, like they say, if you don’t want to do something, you’ll find excuses not to do it, but if you want to do something, you’ll find ways to do it. Let’s hope they want to and that they can find the right reasons to do so.) CDG