Trillanes not solely responsible for bills benefiting military

“The passage of such laws benefiting the AFP is not just a matter of authoring bills, but also taking part in other stages, including holding committee hearings and sponsoring the measure,” he said. (File Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday said Senator Antonio Trillanes IV cannot claim sole responsibility for the passage of all the measures that the latter claimed to have authored for the benefit the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), as well as police and other uniformed personnel.

In a statement, Lacson stressed that measures providing for the AFP’s modernization are the work of the Senate as an institution representing the people.

“The passage of such laws benefiting the AFP is not just a matter of authoring bills, but also taking part in other stages, including holding committee hearings and sponsoring the measure,” he said.

Lacson made the statement after Trillanes released a list of laws and projects for the military and the police, which the opposition lawmaker said he authored.

Trillanes released the list on Sunday in an effort to belie President Rodrigo Duterte’s allegations that he did nothing for them.

Lacson particularly cited the Revised AFP Modernization Act (Republic Act No. 10349), which he stressed stemmed not only from the efforts of Trillanes, but of Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and him as well.

Aside from authoring a separate bill that was consolidated into the Act, the veteran lawmaker also sponsored and defended the measure on the Senate floor.

The member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1971 and former national police chief also presided over several committee hearings on the matter, along with Senator Gregorio Honasan II.

On the other hand, Joint Resolution No. 1, which took effect this January and raised the salaries of military and uniformed personnel, was the result of similar efforts by Honasan, the principal sponsor of the measure; Lacson, the co-author; and Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Cynthia Villar.

Lacson also reminded state security forces that despite all the measures passed for their benefit, their allegiance is to the Philippine Constitution and to the Filipino people.

“More than who authored the bills, the members of the AFP can best show their appreciation by serving the country and the Filipino people,” the senator said.