JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
17th Congress
(Member, 10 August 2016 - 29 November 2016)
(Member, 01 February 2017 - 24 May 2017)
(Member, 01 January 2018 - 01 October 2018)
17th Congress
(Member, 10 August 2016 - 29 November 2016)
(Member, 01 February 2017 - 24 May 2017)
(Member, 01 January 2018 - 01 October 2018)
FEB
07
2018
Seconding speech for FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III for the confirmation of his ad interim appointment as Secretary of the Department of Health
Plenary Session No. 9, Second Regular Session
Distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.
We are very fortunate that President Duterte appointed Dr. Francisco Duque to be the highest health care professional in our country. He is the second Francisco Duque to be appointed as Secretary of Health, the second Secretary of Health to have two terms of office. This translates to his competency, remarkable performance and constant admiration from his colleagues for his dynamic leadership and excellent work ethics. Reform in the health sector instituted by the good Secretary in his first stint in the DOH resonates until today and continues to be beneficial to our people. It was marked by breakthroughs and milestones in public health care which earned high approval and satisfaction rating, and for the country, a World Health Organization citation for being one of only three nations with excellent risk communication strategies against AH1N1. The past service of Secretary Duque has been exceptional.
Francisco Duque III came back to the DOH in an uncomfortable and not so pleasant period in time. He arrived in the time of Dengvaxia. But rather be infected by paranoia, panic and hysteria, he has shown wisdom and grace under pressure - a true mark of a great leader.
Mr. Chair, Mr. President, Secretary Duque’s integrity, credibility is beyond question. I cannot think of any other person to be at the helm of the Department of Health at this very challenging time. I believe that Secretary Duque can withstand all controversies and criticisms that the DOH might stumble into.
I am certain that his extensive portfolio mirrors, as a dedicated public servant and a recognized leader, who has served the health needs of the Filipino nation for over a decade, and his vast experience in the medical field, public service and healthcare, will bring DOH to greater heights.
Mr. Chair, as Chairman of the Committee on Health in the Senate, I would like to manifest my full support for the appointment -- to second the appointment of Francisco Duque III as the Secretary of the Department of Health.
Thank you.
MAY
30
2018
Seconding speech for MENARDO I. GUEVARRA for the confirmation of his ad interim appointment as Secretary, Department of Justice
Plenary Session No. 16, Second Regular Session
The Department of Justice is no ordinary agency of government. It does not simply implement laws. It does not simply provide public service. The DOJ is tasked, as reflected in its mission, with the “effective, efficient and equitable administration of justice”. It is a formidable task and an important one.
The DOJ also administers the government’s criminal system by investigating crimes, prosecuting offenders and overseeing the correctional system. They are, therefore, at the forefront of our society’s efforts to promote justice and peace and order.
It is my honor and privilege to support the confirmation of a man who I believe has the expertise and character to lead the DOJ in the fulfillment of its mission.
ATTY. MENARDO I. GUEVARRA is the epitome of hard work and professionalism. He was a part-time student in the evening classes at the Ateneo School of Law while simultaneously working as a staff economist at the National Economic and Development Authority and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. He graduated magna cum laude from college in 1974 and placed second in the 1985 bar examinations.
He was a technical staff of the 1986 Constitutional Commission; a member of the 2010 Philippine Truth Commission; Deputy Executive Secretary for legal affairs at the Office of the President in 2015; and Commissioner, Philippine Competition Commission, in February 2016.
Atty. Guevarra was a member of the Philippine legal team in the arbitration case concerning the West Philippine Sea at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. Prior to his current appointment, Atty. Guevarra was Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (DESLA) at the Office of the President.
His expertise on Civil Law and Administrative Litigation will surely serve him in good stead in his current post.
In a short speech he delivered before employees at the DOJ, our nominee said: “…it is my personal mission to restore DOJ’s dignified and respectable image”.
Let us support his mission to restore the image of the DOJ as an agency of justice, and peace and order.
I second the motion to confirm the ad interim appointment of Atty. Menardo Guevarra as Secretary of Justice.
MAY
30
2018
Seconding speech for SOCORRO BALINGHASAY INTING for the confirmation of her ad interim appointment as Commissioner, Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
Plenary Session No. 16, Second Regular Session
Good afternoon, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
The 2019 midterm election is fast approaching. The Commission on Elections, as an independent and fiscally-autonomous Body free from political influence from other branches of government, needs commissioners who are impartial for it to be able to conduct free, fair, and honest elections.
Mr. Chair, I believe that Justice Inting’s track record in the judiciary will be a significant contribution to the COMELEC. She started her career as a lawyer immediately after passing the 1980 Philippine bar examinations; served as a prosecutor for six years; and, a public attorney for seven years. She was a judge at the Makati City Metropolitan Trial Court for three years and at the Manila Regional Trial Court for nine years before her appointment to the Court of Appeals in 2009.
After dedicating her life to the judiciary, election laws being a new venture for her as a COMELEC Commissioner, she has always been eager in devoting her time, energy and effort in this endeavor. Her appointment will surely be a positive development in the poll Body.
With this, I earnestly support the confirmation of Justice Socorro Balinghasay Inting as COMELEC Commissioner.
Thank you very much.
MAY
30
2018
Seconding speech for CARLITO G. GALVEZ JR. for the confirmation of his ad interim appointment to the grade of General, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
Plenary Session No. 16, Second Regular Session
Good afternoon, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
There were many lessons from the Siege of Marawi City and the battle that raged on for five (5) months. First, we were reminded of the gallantry of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Fighting local terror groups who had no regard for civilian lives and properties, our soldiers carefully balanced the need to defeat them and protect our brothers and sisters in Marawi City.
Second, despite the fact that we defeated the terrorists, thereby sending a strong message to the rest of the world that we are serious when it comes to dealing with extremism, Marawi revealed to us the new challenges of violent extremism to our military – the need to transform our military and make it adaptable and relevant to the ever-changing nature of warfare.
Our soldiers, who were trained and experienced in jungle warfare and counter-insurgency, suddenly found themselves engaging in urban warfare with a lot of civilian population and very close to civilian institutions like schools and mosques. They were fighting an enemy who used snipers to shoot at us and social media to engage in terrorist propaganda.
In addition to these, as we are about to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) our soldiers need to be agents of peace-building as we attempt to end the decades-old conflict in Muslim Mindanao and give our Muslim brothers and sisters the autonomy, peace and prosperity they deserve.
In other words, we need a person who can lead the AFP in these challenging times. I believe that the right man for the job is Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr.
Mr. Chair, I am endorsing the confirmation of General Galvez Jr. because he is a very competent leader. He is acknowledged as a very capable-battle-tested officer who saw extensive action in the various theaters of engagement in the country, particularly in war-torn Mindanao.
A graduate of the 1985 “Sandiwa Class” of the Philippine Military Academy, General Galvez received a higher education degree in Australia as well as various military and management training in Singapore, Italy, Hawaii and at Harvard University in the US. He also received the “Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) Award” in 2007.
General Galvez Jr. is the former Commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) based in Zamboanga City, the military command mainly responsible for areas addressing threats from local armed groups with links to international terrorist organizations operating in Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
As the Chief of the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) during the Marawi Siege, General Galvez Jr. “provided strategic direction and inspiration and deployed forces to successfully rescue the civilian hostages, neutralize Isnilon Hapilon, all the Maute brothers and terrorists, and clear Marawi.”
General Galvez, I believe, is the embodiment of what Gen. Douglas McArthur had in mind when he once said: “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
General Galvez is a decorated military commander whose fields of specialty include Leadership Development, Counter-terrorism, humanitarian Assistance, Strategic Thinking/Decision-Making, Systems Dynamics Modeling and Negotiation and Mediation.
But he is also a staunch supporter of peace. While he is prepared to fight a war in order to protect the republic, he has the temperament to reach out to the enemy and talk peace. He did that with an MILF Commander in order to stop hostilities and complete a provincial circumferential road.
He did that in 2015 when he talked with the MILF 118th Base Command Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the middle of the hostilities in Mamasapano. According to Mohagher Iqbal, General Galvez Jr.’s leadership was instrumental in preventing the Mamasapano clashes from becoming a full-blown conflict.
Mr. Chair, colleagues, I do not know of anyone more prepared in terms of experience, expertise, loyalty to the Constitution, but more importantly, the peace-building credentials to lead our Armed Forces in these interesting times.
I, therefore, support the confirmation of Gen. Carlito G. Galvez Jr. as Chief of Staff of our Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Thank you very much.
SEP
26
2018
Seconding speech for ANTONIO TONGIO KHO JR. for the confirmation of his ad interim appointment as Commissioner, Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
Plenary Session No. 2, Third Regular Session
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
I’d like to second the motion for the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Comm. Antonio Kho.
Given his impressive credentials and his track record, I’d like to second the motion for the confirmation of his ad interim appointment.