Tolentino mum on Duterte impeachment, raises need for impartiality | ABS-CBN
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Tolentino mum on Duterte impeachment, raises need for impartiality
Tolentino mum on Duterte impeachment, raises need for impartiality
Senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino remains mum on the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to stay impartial.
Senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino remains mum on the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to stay impartial.
Speaking on ABS-CBN’s Harapan 2025 on Tuesday, Tolentino who is Senate Majority Floor Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Rules, said “We'll just try to abide with what is expected from the Senate judges to be fair, objective, impartial. So yung merits of the case should not and cannot be discussed.”
Speaking on ABS-CBN’s Harapan 2025 on Tuesday, Tolentino who is Senate Majority Floor Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Rules, said “We'll just try to abide with what is expected from the Senate judges to be fair, objective, impartial. So yung merits of the case should not and cannot be discussed.”
If Tolentino wins a seat in the midterm elections, he will be a senator-judge in the impeachment trial that is expected to start on July 30.
If Tolentino wins a seat in the midterm elections, he will be a senator-judge in the impeachment trial that is expected to start on July 30.
Asked if Duterte should explain how she spent her offices’ confidential funds, Toletino said he cannot act as counsel for the Vice President.
Asked if Duterte should explain how she spent her offices’ confidential funds, Toletino said he cannot act as counsel for the Vice President.
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“Hindi mo dapat ma-compromise yung institution,” Tolentino added. “Kokonti na lang kaming lawyer sa Senado. So kung ikukuwento ko yung gagawin, siguro hindi dapat ako abogado. So mas mainam siguro, lumabas lahat yan sa kung magkakaroon ng trial.”
“Hindi mo dapat ma-compromise yung institution,” Tolentino added. “Kokonti na lang kaming lawyer sa Senado. So kung ikukuwento ko yung gagawin, siguro hindi dapat ako abogado. So mas mainam siguro, lumabas lahat yan sa kung magkakaroon ng trial.”
He said he is saddened by the break-up of the UniTeam of Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., which he supported during the 2022 elections.
He said he is saddened by the break-up of the UniTeam of Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., which he supported during the 2022 elections.
He said he does not know who caused the split.
He said he does not know who caused the split.
WPS, AKAP, EDUCATION
Tolentino is running under the administration ticket.
Tolentino is running under the administration ticket.
He said he agreed more with the Marcos administration’s foreign policy regarding the West Philippine Sea as compared to the Duterte administration’s approach.
He said he agreed more with the Marcos administration’s foreign policy regarding the West Philippine Sea as compared to the Duterte administration’s approach.
“Because we are now broadening, expanding our ties, not just limited to our existing MTT with the United States,” he said.
“Because we are now broadening, expanding our ties, not just limited to our existing MTT with the United States,” he said.
“Kapapasa lang namin ng Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan. Kapipirma lang natin sa Australia at pasunod na nga yung iba eh so mas maganda marami tayong kausap kasi it's not just a security arrangement, it has something to do with trade. Remember the West Philippine Sea is an international trade route; seven trillion US dollars ang dumataan doon. So mas magandang marami tayong kausap because it involves the international law of the sea.”
“Kapapasa lang namin ng Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan. Kapipirma lang natin sa Australia at pasunod na nga yung iba eh so mas maganda marami tayong kausap kasi it's not just a security arrangement, it has something to do with trade. Remember the West Philippine Sea is an international trade route; seven trillion US dollars ang dumataan doon. So mas magandang marami tayong kausap because it involves the international law of the sea.”
He mentioned that there is no pivot to the United States from China because the Philippines never separated from its multilateral defense treaty with the US.
He mentioned that there is no pivot to the United States from China because the Philippines never separated from its multilateral defense treaty with the US.
Tolentino used to be part of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) Laban but resigned in 2024 over “principal differences” related to the West Philippine Sea. He maintains, though, that he and Duterte remain good friends.
Tolentino used to be part of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) Laban but resigned in 2024 over “principal differences” related to the West Philippine Sea. He maintains, though, that he and Duterte remain good friends.
He was also asked whether he considered the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) as pork barrel to which he replied no.
He was also asked whether he considered the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) as pork barrel to which he replied no.
“Ang purpose niya is social amelioration, sa tao naman pupunta,” he said.
“Ang purpose niya is social amelioration, sa tao naman pupunta,” he said.
Tolentino was quick to clarify, however, that the Senate has not yet received any AKAP allocation.
Tolentino was quick to clarify, however, that the Senate has not yet received any AKAP allocation.
Tolentino believes the price of basic commodities is the biggest problem the country faces.
Tolentino believes the price of basic commodities is the biggest problem the country faces.
“Siguro po dapat maramdaman kaagad ng mga kababayan natin yung mga incentives na ibinibigay sa manufacturers, sa mga magsasaka,” he stated. “Ang ini-i-spouse ko, corporate farming. Yung mga malalaking korporasyon dapat mag-invest din sa agrikultura. So yung agrikultura siguro dapat paigtingan pa.”
“Siguro po dapat maramdaman kaagad ng mga kababayan natin yung mga incentives na ibinibigay sa manufacturers, sa mga magsasaka,” he stated. “Ang ini-i-spouse ko, corporate farming. Yung mga malalaking korporasyon dapat mag-invest din sa agrikultura. So yung agrikultura siguro dapat paigtingan pa.”
In order to improve the quality of education in the Philippines, Tolentino said the skills mismatch and curriculum should be looked into, as well as the possibility of integrating into one organization the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
In order to improve the quality of education in the Philippines, Tolentino said the skills mismatch and curriculum should be looked into, as well as the possibility of integrating into one organization the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
He also said he supports a legislated wage hike.
He also said he supports a legislated wage hike.
Tolentino made a pitch for his candidacy by saying that the Senate needs lawyers like him.
Tolentino made a pitch for his candidacy by saying that the Senate needs lawyers like him.
“The Senate is a vital mechanism to implement changes through legislation and I truly believe, naniniwala ako na kailangan natin seryosohin ngayon dahil ang dami nating problema na nakaka-apekto sa buhay ng bawat mamamayan,” he remarked.
“The Senate is a vital mechanism to implement changes through legislation and I truly believe, naniniwala ako na kailangan natin seryosohin ngayon dahil ang dami nating problema na nakaka-apekto sa buhay ng bawat mamamayan,” he remarked.
Some of the laws he principally authored and sponsored include the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.
Some of the laws he principally authored and sponsored include the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.
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