Imee, inalok mag-Senate president

ni Mylene Alfonso @News | May 24, 2025

File Photo: Sen. Imee Marcos - FB

Ibinuking ni reelected Senator Imee Marcos na kinausap siya ng ilang kasamahang senador para kumbinsihin na sumabak sa Senate presidency sa darating na 20th Congress sa Hulyo.

"Some senators have approached me with the proposal to be their candidate for Senate president," sabi ni Imee sa isang pahayag ngunit hindi siya nagbigay ng anumang detalye tungkol sa kanyang tugon sa nasabing kahilingan.

"Whoever will be elected by our peers, whether it is me or not, there are certain congressional reforms that need to be undertaken," ayon sa senadora.

Kaugnay nito, binigyang-diin ni Marcos na kinakailangan nang repormahin ang proseso ng badyet, partikular ang mga tradisyon noong bicameral conference committee sa annual national spending plan bill.

"The most important is reform in the budgetary process. Tigilan na ang mahiwagang bicam. The right priorities in spending, considering our recurring fiscal deficits and huge indebtedness, must be legislated: food security and support to our farmers and fishermen; education; health and truly necessary social services," punto ng Presidential sister.

Tinutulan din niya ang naging pahayag ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) na uupo sa budgetary process ang kanyang kapatid na si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., bilang observer na labag sa konstitusyon.

"Parenthetically, once the OP (Office of the President) has submitted the NEP (National Expenditure Program) to Congress, the power of the purse must be respected. The DBM statement that the president will involve himself in the budgetary process after the NEP is submitted is infirm and unconstitutional," giit pa nito.

Kailangan na rin aniya ang electoral reform sa bansa kabilang ang reporma sa political party na aniya ay naging kasangkapan lamang para sa personal na ambisyon kaysa sa pampublikong interes.

"Above all, the Senate as the guardian of national interest must always be upheld; its independence non-negotiable," patuloy pa niya.

Bukod kay Imee, ang iba pang senador ng 20th Congress na umano’y nag-aagawan para sa pinakamataas na pwesto ng Senado ay sina Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero at Senator-elect Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III.