Mamba never marginalized any bills
We take exception to some of the assertions made by columnist Marichu A. Villanueva in her column “Common Sense” (June 5, 2013, Philippine STAR page 15) ascribing certain quotations to PLLO Secretary Manuel N. Mamba.
Firstly, in paragraph 11 of her article, Ms. Villanueva quoted Secretary Mamba as saying “the lawmakers have only themselves to blame if their pet bills were vetoed. Some of the vetoed bills reportedly contain infirmities while others simply did not meet the Aquino administration’s priority legislative agenda.”
With due respect to Ms. Villanueva, this is highly inaccurate and grossly misleading. For the record, Secretary Mamba never made such a statement involving the subject matter at hand. What Ms. Villanueva may be referring to as a basis for her assertion was a statement Secretary Mamba did make, contained in a June 1, 2013 article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer entitled “55 local bills with flaws vetoed” (p. A9). What the Secretary did say on the subject matter of vetoed bills was “The President is very meticulous with measures, from the time they’re filed until they are brought to him for his signature, and proof of this is that he asks for inputs from concerned department once a bill is enrolled. He hates the idea of a bill lapsing into law; he really studies them before he signs them.”
Clearly, Secretary Mamba never blamed any of our lawmakers for the veto of any bill.
Second, Ms. Villanueva further wrote that “Mamba cited many of the vetoed local bills merely sought changing of names of roads and streets and conversion of local into national roads.”
It would seem that Ms. Villanueva is imputing that Secretary Mamba does not give too much importance to bills of local application. Naturally, bills of national consequence deserve a greater amount of attention because of its far reaching consequences as compared to local bills. However, this does not in any way diminish the importance and effect of local bills on the people affected by them. As correctly pointed out by Ms. Villanueva, even for bills of local application, the President does take the time to review each and every one of them. And it is precisely because we have a President who gives importance to both national and local bills alike that the entire Executive Branch follows his direction. Just to clarify any possible misinterpretation, Secretary Mamba never marginalized any of the bills enrolled for signature by the President.
We thank you for your time and we hope that this letter can clarify and enlighten your readers on the issues discussed. - VICENTE S. LUCAS, Head Executive Assistant, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, Office of the President, Malacaang