Duterte gov’t eyes proactive collaboration with Senate, Congress

Senator Koko Pimentel (left) and President Rodrigo Duterte. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Malacañang is looking forward to the executive branch’s “proactive cooperation” with both houses of Congress after both chambers elected theirs leaders, a Palace official said on Monday.

“We look forward to a proactive cooperation between the executive and legislative branches,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.

READ: Duterte can count on cooperative Congress

“The election of Senate President Pimentel and House Speaker Alvarez is auspicious and timely. Three of the country’s top leaders came from Mindanao,” Andanar added.

READ: Koko Pimentel takes Senate presidency by 20-3 vote | Alvarez elected next Speaker in 17th Congress

The Palace official hopes the Senate and the House of Representatives would “expeditiously address” Duterte’s legislative agenda.

“We hope that this would expeditiously address issues and concerns regarding President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority legislative measures for the Filipino people, particularly the reinstatement of death penalty to fight drugs and heinous crimes, amendments to the Constitution to pave the way for federalism, and reforms to achieve his 10-point economic agenda,” he said.

On Monday, the Senate elected Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III as Senate President while the House of Representatives voted Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez as Speaker of the 17th Congress. Both Pimentel and Alvarez supported Duterte in the May elections. IDL

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