Issues

Sen. Bam: People Power via ballot needed against corruption

Thirty three years after a corrupt dictator was ousted, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that another People Power is needed, this time through the ballot, to ensure that no corrupt candidate will be elected to the Senate.

“Kailangang ng People Power sa balota para walang magnanakaw na maluluklok sa posisyon,” Sen. Bam as the country commemorates the 33rd anniversary of EDSA People Power 1 that toppled a corrupt dictator.

“Ang laban ng EDSA noong 1986 ay laban sa mga magnanakaw—mga magnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, magnanakaw ng buhay at karapatan, magnanakaw ng magandang kinabukasan sa mahigit dalawang dekadang pamumuno ng diktador,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the spirit of EDSA 1 should be rekindled amid the corruption issues hounding the government despite the administration’s promise to stay away from officials with even a ‘whiff of corruption’.

“Hindi pa tapos ang laban ng EDSA dahil hindi pa tumitigil ang mga pagnanakaw. Kailangang buhayin ngayong 2019 ang People Power para labanan ang mga magnanakaw para gumanda ang kinabukasan at di na tayo bumalik sa dating kadiliman,” the senator added.

Earlier, Sen. Bam called on voters looking for better governance to air their sentiment by selecting right candidates in the May elections.

The senator is optimistic that voters will elect senatorial candidates who have the people’s welfare in mind and will work to uplift the lives of Filipino families.

“Magsisilbing boses ng taumbayan ang kanilang mga boto sa Mayo. Tiwala ako na pipiliin nila ang mga kandidatong magsusulong ng kanilang kapakanan,” said Sen. Bam, who is eyeing a second term under the Otso Diretso slate.

Sen. Bam: Today’s People Power is Vote Power

The People Power of today is Vote Power!
 
This was emphasized by Sen. Bam Aquino as he called on the Filipinos to air their grievances with government through the ballot in the May elections. 
 
“Alam kong nakakatakot ngayon, pero kailangan nating ipakita ang ating tapang sa pamamagitan ng ating boto,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“I’m hoping come May, iyong lakas ng taumbayan, mapakita ulit,” said Sen. Bam, who is running for re-election under the Otso Diretso slate.
 
Sen. Bam admitted that being part of the opposition is very difficult during these times, but somebody has to put the government in check and making them accountable for their actions.
 
“This is a gargantuan task, but still it ought to be done. And somebody has got to do it,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam is hoping that voters will select senatorial candidates who will work for the people’s welfare and will uplift lives of Filipino families. 
 
The senator said he’s banking on his legislative accomplishments to earn him a second term in the Senate.
 
In his first term, Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name, including the landmark free college law, which he pushed as principal sponsor during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.
 
Sen. Bam also pushed for the passage of the Go Negosyo Act, which has established more than 1,000 Negosyo Centers in different parts of the country, catering to the needs of Filipinos who want to start or expand their own business.
 
“Unang-una, iyong track record natin, nandiyan naman. Iyong mga natulungan natin sa Free College Law, naririyan na rin po yan,” said Sen. Bam
 
If he wins a second term, Sen. Bam said he will push for reforms that will ensure good jobs for all college and K-12 graduates and other education reforms such as improvement of educational facilities and additional benefits for teachers.

Sen. Bam: Unabated sugar importation to kill sugar industry, deprive small farmers of livelihood

Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that unabated importation of sugar would lead to the death of the sugar industry and affect the livelihood of 90 percent in the sugar farming industry who are land reform beneficiaries.
 
“Nakababahala ang planong ito ng gobyerno na bahain ng merkado ng inangkat na asukal dahil talo ang ating maliliit na magsasaka at kanilang mga pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, who is running for re-election under the Otso Diretso coalition.
 
“Sa walang habas na pag-angkat ng asukal, ninanakawan ng kabuhayan ang mahihirap na pamilyang umaasa sa pagtatanim ng tubo,” the senator added.
 
According to Sen. Bam, if the government pushes through with its plan to liberalize sugar importation, the livelihood of around 84,000 farmers and 720,000 industry workers will be in peril.
 
Instead of pushing for the liberalization of sugar importation, Sen. Bam said the government should give small farmers the needed resources to improve their livelihood. 
 
“Kailangan natin silang tulungan at alalayan, lalo na at marami sa kanila ay benepisyaryo ng repormang agraryo,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Earlier, Sen. Bam recently requested to be a co-author of Resolution No. 1014 requesting the government to shelve its plan to import sugar.

Mother of Sen. Bam reveals secret advice to son

The mother of Sen. Bam Aquino revealed the secret campaign advice that she has given her son for almost 40 years.

According to the 74-year-old Melanie Aquino, the secret language of encouragement that she has always told Sen. Bam, especially when the going gets tough, is “Day one– Unang araw! Bagong araw!”

“Makaraan ang halos 40 taon, ito pa rin ang payo ko kay Bam, ang bawat araw ay bagong simula, tuloy ang laban,” she stressed during the inauguration of Sen. Bam’s volunteer headquarters in Katipunan, Quezon City.

Melanie is no stranger to politics as she accompanied Sen. Bam, who was six years old then, to different opposition rallies where he was invited as speaker.

“Anim na taon pa lang si Bam, volunteer na ako sa kanyang pangangampanya para sa demokrasya,” said Melanie.

“Kapag mahirap ang laban, sinasabi ko sa kanya anak, isipin mo unang araw ngayon. Ito ang unang araw para sa bagong sigla, bagong sikap, bagong tapang at bagong lakas,” she added.

Melanie acknowledged that this campaign will be an uphill climb for his son due to the black propaganda and fake news propagated by his online critics, but she encouraged her son to continue the fight.

“Noon, mahirap ang laban para sa demokrasya. Ngayon, mahirap pa rin ang laban dahil sa tindi ng mga paninira at kasinungalingan,” said Melanie.

Sen. Bam calls for independent Senate, asks voters to pick candidates who will amend TRAIN Law

Sen. Bam Aquino stressed the need for an independent Senate that will protect the interest and welfare of the Filipino people, and not beholden to those in power.

“Ang kailangan po ng ating bayan ay isang Senado na independent, hindi po sunud-sunuran sa mga taong nakaupo at bagkus, kinakampihan ay ang tao po mismo,” Sen. Bam said during the ABS-CBN senatorial debate.

“Kailangan natin ng isang Senadong magsisigurado na ang pangangailangan ng bawat Pilipino ay matutugan — edukasyon, kalusugan, pagbaba ng mga presyo ng bilihin at hustisya,” added Sen. Bam.

Aside from working for the welfare of the Filipino people, Sen. Bam pointed out that an independent Senate will fight the passage of any measure that will burden the public.

“Kailangan natin sa Senado na iyon ang itataguyod, at siyempre kailangang lumaban din sa mga panukalang magsisilbing pabigat sa taumbayan,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 During the debate, Sen. Bam encouraged voters to choose candidates who will work for the amendment of the TRAIN Law to help lift the burden of high prices of food and other goods on the public, especially the poor.

“Iboto natin ang mga senador na willing mag-commit na amyendahan ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, who, as early as May 2018, filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name, including the landmark free college law, but he stressed that more work needs to be done to ensure employment for all graduates.

“Kung papalarin, we will build on reforms on education. Naipasa natin bilang principal sponsor ang libreng kolehiyo sa ating bansa. Ngayong mas madali nang mag-graduate ang ating kabataan, siguraduhin natin na ang bawat graduate ay may magandang trabahong naghihintay sa kanila,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also committed to work on other education reforms, such as improvement of facilities and benefits for teachers.

Sen. Bam on the latest Pulse Asia senatorial survey

Dahil sa inyong patuloy na tiwala at suporta ang pananatili ko sa Magic 12 ng Pulse Asia survey.

Magsisilbi itong napakalaking inspirasyon sa ating pag-iikot at pag-abot sa ating mga kababayan upang maipaalam sa kanila ang ating nagawa at patuloy pang gagawin sa Senado para sa kanilang kapakanan.

Mahaba pa ang ating laban at mahalaga ang bawat tulong na ating makukuha upang maipagpatuloy ang ating hangaring maiangat sa laylayan ang mahihirap nating kababayan.

Sen. Bam thanks Senate President Sotto, fellow re-electionist senators for support

Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga kasama nating re-electionist at kay Senate President Sotto sa tiwala, tulong at suporta. 
 
Taos-puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa suporta nila sa pagsabatas ng libreng kolehiyo. 
 
Dahil po sa ating batas na bunga ng aming pagkakaisa, kahit kapos makakatapos.
 
Ibaiba man po ang aming partido kinabibilangan basta para sa ikakabuti ng bayan, kami po ay nagtutulungan at nagkakaisa.
 
Mahalaga na sa panahon na ito, sa kabila ng pagkakaiba sa politika, kaya nating magkaisa para sa bayan.

Sen. Bam: Lower prices of goods, best Valentine’s Day gift to Filipinos

Reducing prices of petroleum products and goods is the best Valentine’s Day gift to Filipinos burdened by high prices of food and other goods due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Ang pinakamagandang regalo sa taumbayan ngayong Valentine’s Day ay bawas presyo,” said Sen. Bam, who filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May 2018 to help lower prices of petroleum products and other goods.

“Masakit ang puso ng maraming Pilipino dahil nalulunod pa rin sa taas-presyo ang taumbayan lalo na ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

The price of galunggong rose from P130 per kilo in December 2017 to P200 per kilo in December 2018 before slightly dropping to P180 per kilo as of February 7. Sardines rose from P15 in December 2017 to P17.50 in December 2018 up to present.

Prices of bangus increased from P130 per kilo in December 2017 to P200 per kilo in December 2018 before dropping to P180 per kilo early this month while pork went up from P200 per kilo in December 2017 to P220 per kilo in December 2018 up to present.

“Nakaka-heartbreak pong malaman na nananatili pa ring mataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin tulad ng sardinas at baboy. Kailangan pong ipaalala na sa gobyerno na hindi parin bumababa ang presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam warned that Filipinos will be in for a tougher time with the increasing prices of petroleum products and electricity.

“Kailangan na nating kumilos upang matugunan ang serye ng pagtaas na ito. Panahon na upang ipasa ang Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill na matagal na nating isinusulong upang mabigyan ng ginhawa ang ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam’s measure seeks to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

Sen. Bam condemns Maria Ressa’s arrest, says gov’t must follow rule of law

Sen. Bam Aquino condemned the arrest of Rappler chief executive officer (CEO) Maria Ressa, calling it a government ploy to silence its critics, including journalists.

“Malinaw na pananakot ito sa mga kritiko ng administrasyon,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the arrest of Ressa is a big blow to press freedom, which he calls as an important pillar of democracy in our country.

“Lubha akong nababahala sa dagok na ito sa malayang pamamahayag. Mahalagang haligi ng demokrasya ng ating bansa ang press freedom,” emphasized Sen. Bam, who is running under the Otso Diretso slate.

“Kapag napilay ang demokrasya, mamemeligro ang mga karapatan at kalayaan ng mamamayan,” the senator added.

Ressa was arrested by elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for cyber-libel for an article published by Rappler in May 2012 or four months before the Cybercrime Prevention Act was enacted.

Sen. Bam: May elections should focus on needs, welfare of Filipino people

The May elections should center on addressing the needs and other vital issues affecting the Filipino people, and not on President Duterte, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Ang nais sana namin sa kampanyang ito ay hindi lang maging tungkol kay President Duterte o tungkol sa aming walo. Tungkol ito sa taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam, who is running under the Otso Diretso coalition.

“Ang eleksyon na ito ay tungkol sa mga boses na matagal nang hindi napapakinggan. Panahon na para ang mga sinasabi ng mga boses na ito ay maging bahagi ng mga programa ng mga ihahalal natin,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the coalition is focused on crafting solutions to the everyday problems hounding the Filipino people, including high prices of goods, hunger, poverty, security and human rights, among others.

“Nagbabago ang kwento ng kampanya dahil lumalaki at tumitindi ang pangangailangan ng taumbayan dahil sa hirap ng buhay. Ang tanong nila, sino ba talaga ang makikinig sa pangangailangan namin?” said Sen. Bam.

“Ang uunahin namin ay ang taumbayan, at makikita niyo na ito ang nagbubuklod sa amin sa Otso Diretso,” the senator added.

As principal sponsor of the free college law, Sen. Bam said it opens up opportunities for Filipinos to have a brighter future through education and helps poor families cope with everyday needs.

“Sa halip na ipambayad sa tuition ang pinaghirapang pera, ngayon maaari nang magamit ito ng pamilyang Pilipino sa iba pang pangangailangan, lalo na ngayong mahal ang presyo ng pagkain,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam was one of four senators who stood up against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law based on his firm belief that it will burden the Filipino people with high prices of food and other goods.

“Tumayo tayo kontra TRAIN Law dahil alam natin na ito’y malaking pabigat sa ating mga kababayan, lalo sa mga mahihirap,” said Sen. Bam, who has 35 laws to his name in almost six years as senator.

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