"We will study with a fine-tooth comb all proposals that will be submitted to us," said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri in a recent interview. House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a first cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been less vocal about asserting the bigger chamber's independence from the executive branch. As in previous congresses, the House leadership of the 19th Congress appears to be more cooperative in pushing the President's legislative agenda. While Zubiri has been consistently vowing to assert the independence of the Senate, Romualdez has been emphasizing pursuing the administration's unity agenda. Clearly, Marcos has Congress at his disposal, with close allies and relatives occupying important positions in both chambers.

Source: Manila Times August 15, 2022 04:58 UTC