REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Senat:e
Pasay City

Journal
SESSION NO. 23
Monday, September 26,2011

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND REGULAR SESSION

SESSION NO. 23 Monday, September 26,20 II

CALL TO ORDER
At 3:19 p.m., the Senate President, Hon. Juan Ponce Enrile, called the session to order.

Senators Cayetano (A) and Marcos were on official mission. Senators Defensor Santiago, Pangilinan, Pimentel and Villar were on official mission abroad.

SILENT PRAYER
The Body observed a minute of silent prayer.

At this juncture, Senate President Enrile relinquished the Chair to Senate President Pro Tempore Ejercito Estrada.

NATIONAL ANTHEM APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL

The Manila City Hall Chorale led the singing of the national anthem and thereafter rendered the song, entitled Ay Ay Ay, Pag-ihig. Upon motion of Senator Sotto, there being no objection, the Body dispensed with the reading of the Journal of Session No. 22 (September 21, 20 II) and considered it approved.

ROLL CALL
Upon direction of the Chair, the Secretary of the Senate, Atty. Emma Lirio-Reyes, called the roll, to which the following senators responded: Angara, E. J. Arroyo, J. P. Cayetano, P. S. Drilon, F. M. Ejercito Estrada, J. Enrile, J. P. Escudero, F. J. G. Guingona Ill, T. L. Honasan, G. B. Lacson, P. M. Lapid, M. L. Legarda, L. Revilla Jr., R. B. Sotto Ill, V. C.

REFERENCE OF BUSINESS
The Secretary of the Senate read the following matters and the Chair made the corresponding referrals:

RESOLUTION
Proposed Senate Resolution No. 609, entitled RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATIONS, THE SENATE SELECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT, AND OTHER APPROPRIATE COM-

With 14 senators present, the Chair declared the presence of a quorum. Senators Osmena, Recto and Trillanes arrived after the roll call.

374

MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 26. 2011

MITTEES OF THE SENATE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY INTO THE ALLEGED ANOMALOUS PROCUREMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS (DOTC) OF ONE BILLION ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION (PHPI.ISO BILLION) WORTH OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE EQUIPMENT AND LIGHTHOUSES SPARE PARTS INTENDED FOR THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD (PCG), WITH THE END IN VIEW OF DETERMINING COMPLIANCE WITH REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9184, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT REFORM ACT OF 2003," AND ENACTING REMEDIAL LEGISLATION TO STRENGHTEN SAID ACT AND OTHER RELEVANT LAWS OF THE LAND Introduced the Senators Guingona III and Trillanes IV To the Committee on Accountability of Pnblic Officers and Investigations; and the Senate Select Oversight Committee on Government Procurement COMMITTEE REPORTS Committee Report No. 58, prepared and submitted by the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, on Senate Bill No. 2972, with Senators Ejercito Estrada, Villar, Legarda and Escudero as authors thereof, entitled AN ACT PROVIDING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR THE CRIME OF THEFT AND ROBBERY OF PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND PORTABLE COMPUTERS, recommending its approval in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 705, 1140, 1335 and 2365. Sponsor: Senator Escudero To the Calendar for Ordinary Business Committee Report No. 59, prepared and submitted by the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, on Senate Bill No. 2973, with Senators Defensor

Santiago and Escudero as authors thereof, entitled AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 2 OF ACT NO. 4 103, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE INDETERMINATE SENTENCE LAW, recommending its approval in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 1840 and 2370. Sponsor: Senator Escudero To the Calendar for Ordinary Bnsiness ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE PRESENCE OF GUESTS At this juncture, Senator Sotto acknowledged the presence in the gallery of the students from the Holy Angel University and the West Visayas State University of Iloilo City. Senate President Pro Tempore Ejercito Estrada welcomed the guests to the Senate. SUSPENSION OF SESSION Upon motion of Senator Sotto, the session was suspended.

It was 3:26 p.m.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION At 3:37 p.m., the session was resumed. PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF SENATOR CAYETANO (P) Availing herself of the privilege hour, Senator Cayetano (P) spoke on the issue of prostitution.

Following is the full text of the speech:

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations, I rise on a matter of personal and collective privilege to bring into fore the issue of prostitution that should not be brushed aside, but sadly, as we can see, is being swept under the rugs. I assure my colleagues this will be an interesting privilege speech.

MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 26. 20 II

375 In the website of the Department of Tourism, a "foreign tourist" is defined as a person without distinction as to race, gender, language, or religion, who is proceeding to the Philippines for a legitimate, nonimmigrant purpose such as sightseeing, sports, health, family reasons, training or study, religious pilgrimage, business, cultural and scientific purposes. Naturally, coming to the Philippines for sex is not expected to be one of the options that will be included in the forms that foreigners wishing to enter the Philippines will have to fill out. So I simply pose the question: How could Malacanang claim that the statement of U.S. Ambassador Thomas is inaccurate?
The news article quoted Secretary Jimenez as saying these are isolated cases. Where exactly are these isolated cases where the sex trade exists and the children ate being exploited,
so with our women? How many women and

According to a 2009 study. there are about 800,000 prostitutes working in the Philippines, with up to half of them underaged children. This figure amounts to almost a 50% increase from the 500,000 estimate in a 1998 study by the International Labor Organization. In fact, the Philippines ranks fourth among the countries with the most number of prostituted children. A study by the Psychological Trauma Program of the Universily of the Philippines notes that prostitution may now be the fourth largest source of GNP. Imagine that. Can we now brag that our source of GNP is from the illegal trade of our children's flesh?

In a forum before some members of the Judiciary last Thursday, U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. was quoted by the Inquirer to have stated that, "While the Philippines is a model for other countries in combating human trafficking, a lot sti II remains to be done because up to 40% offoreign male tourists visiting the country corne here primarily for sex."
This statement caused an avalanche of denials from Malacafiang. In a Philippine Slar ncws report last Saturday, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte was reported to have stated that, "The issue was already brought to the attention of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, who clarified that the statistics cited by the ambassador were inaccurate." Quoting Jimenez, Valte said that the DOT's figure shows that "shopping and sightseeing" are the dominant activities for both male and female tourists in the Philippines. How exactly can Malacanang determine the exact purpose of every tourist visit? Is there a form that tourists fill out that state what they inlend to do in the Philippines? Does this form provide a box wherc tourists can indicate that they come to the Philippines to shop for women or to procure illegal sex?

children are part of this illegal trade? What programs are there to address these problems? The news article further quoted Secretary Jimenez to have stated that "Our message to all tourists is simple: you are welcome to the Philippines anytime for good, clean fun and excitement. If you are coming for darker reasons, we don't want your business." That is a good statement, but where can we find that declaration? Are there posters in key areas like airports and other areas frequented by tourists announcing that these are crimes? Have there been prosecutions against tourists who solicit sex? In Cambodia, they have signs in various areas, such as men's toilets, with telephone numbers that one can call. Pedophilia is a crime in Cambodia and the authorities do imprison offenders. The sign, according to the website, says that "if you feel someone is acting suspiciously, you could ring this number. You can also ask your hotel or hostel to summon the police. You can also report a foreign national to their embassy in Phnom Penh andlor report it via email." Sad to say, I know of hotels that even serve as the agents or the bugaws of children and women. Where are our signs like these? Where are the messages that tell the people that we do not want their business? Knowing the professional background of the newly appointed DOT secretary, I throw him a challenge, and I believe it is a simple challenge - to translate his statement into a storyboard and send the clear message "Go away." Malacanang has acknowledged that sex tourism is happening. In the same article, Deputy

At this juncture, Senator Cayetano (P) invited her colleagues to look at the screen showing a replica qf the exact form for a Philippine visa and the customs dec/oration.
So that Malacanang will not question the numbers, do we just inclUde it in the application form for a Philippine visa, as well as in the customs declaration that anyone coming into the Philippines will be filling up, that they are going to the Philippines to procure illegal sex? That is why I put here as an option to check that box because Malacafiang seems very certain that this is not the reason why tourists come to the Philippines.

'r

376 spokesperson Valte was quoted as saying, "It

MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 26.2011

canlJot be denied that sexual tourism is

happening, including traftlcking of women and
children, but the government has been exerting

effort to curb the problem." I humbly submit that we are not doing enough. Yes. we have been removed from Tier 2 watchlist by the United States. But we are still in Tier 2. What are these tiers and their significance? Allow me to explain. The different tiers are set up by the U.s. government in the Traftlcking Victims Protection Act to link their humanitarian aid with the issue on traftlcking.

and loss of U.S. SUppOlt for assistance (except for humanitarian, trade-related, and certain development-related assistance) from international financial institutions, specifically the International Monetary Fund and multilateral development banks such as the World Bank. But regardless of whatever system is set up by the United States, the fact remains that there
exists a seriolls

trafficking issue in our country

which needs to be addressed. Annually, 300,000 to 400,000 Filipinas are being traftlcked.
We cannot continue to remain blind, deaf,

Tier 3 refers to countries whose governments do not comply with the minimum standards under the Traftlcking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and are not making significant efforts to do so. Tier 2 watch list refers to countries whose governments do not fully comply with said minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards and who fulfill three other criteria:

a)

The absolute number of victims of severe form of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing;
There is failure to provide evidence of increasing effort to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons in the previous yem's; or The determination that a country is making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards was based on commitments by the country to take added future steps over the next year.

mute and insensitive to these realities. Pictures and information that my staff just googled on the web show how easy it is to find information regarding the "red light" districts in the Philippines. In fact, in a website of a certain foreigner, he wrote: "Manila has no more red light areas but you can still find a booming nightlife! Today, it is about Malate in Ermita with clubs mid discos, bars, music clubs and a lot more! BUT IF YOU WANT THE RED LIGHT, YOU BETTER GO TO ANGELES CITY. It is north of Manila and you can easily find a bus to Angeles City. Here, you can find a lot of bars and girls (but don't tell your wife about this corny place.)"

b)

c)

Th is is where we were a few months ago. Today, we are in Tier 2 which reiers to countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA's minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance. And, finally, Tier I which refers to countries deemed to have serious trafficking problems but fully complying with the Act's minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. What does this mean? Being removed from Tier 2 watchlist means we are no longer in immediate danger of the sanctions under U.S. Public Law 106-386 or the "Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of2000," where countries listed in Tier J are subject to sanctions) including termination of non-humanitarian, non-trade-related assistance

My staff searched for the website of Angeles City in the internet We found the official AngelesCity.gov.ph website which just shows messages from the local government officials. However, without much effort, the search will likewise produce another officiallooking website AngeiesCity.com. In the tab that says "nightlife," we wi II see go-go or girly bars being promoted. I wonder if the city government of Angeles City is aware of this, or if it is doing something about it, or if it is just tacitly allowing this kind of promotion of its city and its women to prevail. And if this is not enough, it is also easy to discover that information and massage "services" such as these are available on the internet. In connection with this, I received a message from a British Jesuit priest who told me that he just arrived in the Philippines and is connected with Ateneo, and has been asked five times: "Are you looking for a wife?" Is this the image we want for our women? What programs does the government implement to protect the rights of our Filipino women, give them the respect that is due them, provide a barrier of protection against the foreigners and for that matter, local men who prey upon them and want them as sexual

MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 26. 20 II

377

objects? Do we have a program in place where they can get information to help them become more aware of these dangers and of this illegal business? This government must wake up to the reality that the increase in sex trade is a real issue in the promotion of tourism. Do not get me wrong. I am all for the promotion of tourism, particularly environmental and spOJ1s tourism. These areas are already proving to be great attractions for
our country.

There are a lot of things we can do for our Filipinos, for our women and children. Let us start by accepting the reality that this problem exists not in isolated parts of our country but all over. Let us then make an honest assessment of the programs we have in place to address this
concern,

Illegal trade and the promotion of sex

tourism exist and will spread like a forest fire. It

will grow like a communicable disease if we do not put the necessary safeguards to prevent it, and it will fester like an untreated, infected wound. The entire Depm1ment of Tourism (DOT), from the national level to the local level, must be conscious of the existence of this monster and must work with the DSWD, the BOI, and other government agencies to deal with it. No less than the United Nations has acknowledged that sex tourism ex ists as part of tourism and has
raised serious concerns of its effects and consequences.

Whether it is 40% or 5%, a handful or one million tourists coming here to exploit our children and women, that already is too many vulnerable children and women exposed to a life or prostitution. And this must be addressed today, not tomorrow. Huwag po tayong magbulag-hulagan.

INTERPELLA nON OF SENATOR ESCUDERO

Senator Escudero asked Senator Cayetano (P) whether she knew the basis of Ambassador Thomas in pointing out that 40% of foreign male tourists who come to the Philippines come to the country for prostitution. He noted that earlier in her speech, Senator Cayetano (P) said that about 300,000 to 400,000 women and minors are trafficked in the Philippines every year, so that if the estimated number of tourists is three million, 40% would translate to 1.2 million Filipino women and children being trafficked. Senator Cayetano (P) replied that she came across the statement in the newspapers on Friday and that she has not had an opportunity to ask the ambassador or anyone from the U.S. Embassy. She explained that she brought up the issue because she was bothered by the avalance of denials coming from Malacanang. She reiterated that to her, the figure was immaterial. She stressed that what is important is the realization that the problem of prostitution exists and that it should merit action from government. She questioned the statements made by Malacanang and the secretary of Tourism that visitors come to the country for sightseeing and shopping and that sexual tourism incidents are isolated. Senator Escudero agreed that indeed the problem must be addressed by the government. He said that he would also like to call the DFA Secretary, for him to make the necessary inquiries with the U.S. Ambassador regarding the basis of the figures that were made public. Made at the time when the President was in the United States, he believed that the statement was either uncalled for or done in bad taste and that it could have been properly addressed to the DOT, NBI or Bureau of Immigration and not

It would do well to link up with various NOOs who, on their own, are involved in preventive programs such as going to the streets
to provide counseling and education not just for the women who are prospective victims of prostitution, but also for the men to educate
them not to be potential buyers. We need action from the executive department.

Before I end, I would like to take this opportunity to calion my colleagues for the prioritization of the repeal of the existing provisions on prostitution in the Revised Penal Code and the passage of the Anti-Prostitution Act. As a result of our hearings and consultations with the different government agencies and NOOs in the 14'" Congress, I filed Senate Bill No. 2341, which seeks to address the root of the problem of prostitution. The bill seeks to change the publ ic perception and treatment of persons exploited in prostitution as victims of the system and not as criminals. It shifts the accountability of prostitution from the prostituted person to the exploiter. The bill also provides for other mechanisms to ensure that the human rights of persons exploited in prostitution are upheld and the victims, aside from being extracted out of the system, can go back and reinstate themselves into the society through certain rehabilitation programs. We also have the amendments to the Anti-Trafficking Law that are pending in the Senate.

378

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

made in a press conference. He added that the DFA secretary should invite the U.S. ambassador to explain his statement because the Filipinos deserve, at the very least, to know the basis of such statement made against the country. He also asked how 40% could be considered on improvement to take the country out of Tier 2 watch I is!. Senator Cayetano (P) informed the Body that the issue of human trafficking is the passion of Ambassador Thomas as he has mentioned the topic in his countless speeches. She said that she met the U.S. Ambassador six months ago and that 70% or 80% of their discussion was on human trafficking. Senator Cayetano (P) explained that the U.S. had a clear-cut grading system, the purpose of which is to determine which countries it would want to give aid to address the issue of trafficking; thus, if it sees that a country is not improving on its anti-trafficking programs, the country would be pJaced on a watchlis!. However, she said that regardless of the U.S. grading system, it would do the Philippines a lot of good to have its own grading system and its own programs to protect its women and children.

cybercrime law, with the hope that it would be passed before the end of the year and for both of them to meet with the DlLG so that violators from all over the country could be apprehended. She pointed out that trafficking is not just a concern of the Senate Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations but also a law and order problem that should be addressed by the DlLG. As regards the statement attributed to U.S. Ambassador Thomas, Senator Legarda stated that it could be considered third-hand information because it was culled from newspaper reports, and she agreed that such a remark, as published in the newspapers, was quite undiplomatic. However, she appealed to her colleagues to verify first the information before passing judgment on Ambassador Thomas, and to fInd out the basis of his statement. She likewise expressed alarm over the very high percentage quoted in the report and hoped that Ambassador Thomas could share with the Philippine Senate information obtained from the vast intelligence network of the United States so that bills pending in the Chamber could be amended accurately. Moreover, she expressed belief that as a responsible representative of the U.S. in a country listed in Tier 2, Ambassador Thomas would not make comment without any basis, especially since he is just as passionate as most of the Members of the Senate in trying to stem the problem of trafficking. Asked by the Chair if she could identify the socalled red light districts in Manila, Senator Legarda replied that it is common knowledge to most people that prostitution and abuse of women and children are being done with the knowledge of authorities. She refused to identify the areas, as this might dignify and give them undue attention and undeserved advel1ising.

REMARKS OF SENATOR LEGARDA

Associating herself with the concerns of Senators Cayetano (P) and Escudero, Senator Legarda informed the Body that Senator Cayetano (P) herself designated her as subcommittee chair and she affirmed that the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act was being amended to make it more effective. She hoped that the Chamber would support such amendments and hopefully too, the only Member with reservation to interpellate would just translate the interpellation into amendments for the Committee's
consideration.

As regards prostitution of women and children, Senator Legarda acknowledged that while the Philippines was being unfairly projected in international media, this might not be without basis, as she pointed out the proliferation of such activities not only in Angeles City but also in other parts of Metro Manila where the wares of women and children are openly peddled. She recalled that a year ago, Senate President Pro Tempore Ejercito Estrada, in fact, showed her photos of the peddling of children in a website. She expressed hope that she could soon meet with Senator Cayetano (P) to discuss the amendments to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the proposed

REFERRAL OF SPEECH TO COMMITTEES

Upon motion of Senator Sotto, there being no objection, the Chair referred the speech of Senator Cayetano (P) to the Committees on Youth, Women, and Family Relations; and Tourism.

PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF SENATOR LEGARDA

Likewise availing herself of the privilege hour, Senator Legarda delivered the following speech:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26,2011

379
20 I 0 paved the way to climate resilience, And as we seek to enhance a climate law with a complementing policy on climate finance through the Senate President's People's Survival Fund, I hope that the government will soon champion successes in the implementation of these measures. Another significant step forward is for the President to assume his role as the chairperson of the Climate Change Commission and convene it immediately for the approval of the National Climate Change Action Plan. As a nation considered to be the third most vulnerable to disaster risks and natural hazards, reducing disaster risk, therefore, not only makes good economic sense but secures our children's future. And even as we undertake projects for improved disaster preparedness, there is no substitute for national and local government budget that are climate-change adaptive.

REVISITING THE LESSONS OFONOOY I stand here today, two years since one of the most devastating typhoons unleashed its wrath in our country, to renew my call for the government to translate "transformational leadership" into measurable gains in protecting people's lives and livelihoods and building our resilience as a nation against the worsening state of disaster and climate risks. We already know the risks. Tropical storm Pedring entered the Philippines exactly two years after three successive tropical cyclones-Ondoy, Pep eng and Sanltinflicted damages to the country, as if examining if we have sincerely learned our painful lessons from these disasters. But have we really learned enough? The threat of strong typhoons constantly brings back the fears of another Ondoy or Pepeng that left nearly a thousand people killed, about two million families affected, and a staggering US$4.4 billion in total damage, or the equivalent of 2.7 percent of total GOP. With these overwhelming figures as backdrop, do we now have the political will to make the right choice for our people and their future? Has our public investment increased our country's stock of development assets or has it instead increased the stock of risks and liabilities? How can we invest more today for a safer tomorrow? With each disaster, money rrom the government coffers is diverted to relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Apart rrom the US$4.4 billion we lost to Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi, government money ought to have been spent on supporting rural livelihoods, on improving primary education and extending better healthcare service for women and children - billions are used to fund the distribution of relief goods to evacuees, in reconstructing expensive infi'astructure from the ground up, and in helping the afflicted communities recover from one disaster after another. It is imperative for the administration and to us, legislators, to submit to the discipline of disaster and climate risk-sensitive development planning. The national government budget for 20 I 2 must anticipate and must withstand the impacts and economic stress brought about by climate change, stronger typhoons, heavier rains, prolonged droughts and other extreme weather events. The CI imate Change Act of 2009 and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of

Finally, as we remember the scars that Ondoy left on our memories, Jet us renew our moral responsibility to our people and our commitment to good governance and towards a more resilient nation.

REFERRAL OF SPEECH TO COMMITTEES

Upon motion of Senator Sotto, there being no objection, the Chair referred the speech of Senator Legarda to the Committees on Climate Change; and Environment and Natural Resources.

COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 49 ON SENATE BILL NO. 2865

(Continuation)
Upon motion of Senator Sotto, there being no objection, the Body resumed consideration, on Second Reading, of Senate Bill No. 2865 (Committee Report No, 49), entitled AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT. Senator Sotto stated that the pari iamentary status was still the period of interpellations. Thereupon, the Chair recognized Senator Cayetano (1'), sponsor of the measure, and Senate President Enrile for the continuation of his interpellation,

380

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

SUSPENSION OF SESSION
Upon motion of Senator Cayetano (P), the session was suspended.

program-planning and priorities-setting guide for federal, state, and local public and private agencies." The institute publishes the widely disseminated Family Planning Perspectives to publicize the agency's research, promote its

II was 4:13 p.m.

views on politics, and serve as a trade journal

for drug companies advertising birth control technology. The Guttmacher Institute's bi-weekly Washington Memo keeps its 'finger on political pulse in Washington,' reporting to its nationwide constituency on "who takes what position on which issues" and "how individual congressmen act on each question" in the birth control population area. The State Reproductive Health Monitor does the same for the states. The institute takes credit for being "a major

RESUMPTION OF SESSION
At 4: 18 p.m., the session was resumed.

INTERPELLATION
OF SENATE PRESIDENT ENRILE

(Continuation)
Senate President Enrile recalled that Senator Cayetano (P) referred to some statistical materials prepared by the National Statistics Office, including the Philippine 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey which, he noted, was evidently funded by the United States Agency of International Development (USAJD). He said that he went through the material carefully and he was confused by the figures it mentioned and noted many inconsistencies. He stated that as he was carefully going through the document to find out if there was anything about reproductive health, he was struck to find out that it was prepared for population control and nothing about matel'llal health, except child care. He added that in the speech, the Sponsor used statistical materials provided by the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI) to support the case of the RB bill proponents, and he noted that AGI has its address at 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, I 120 Connecticut Avenue, Northwest Suite 460 Washington D.C. 20036 and with web address at http://www.agi-usa.org. At this juncture, Senate President Enrile read into the record the statements of Ms. Jacqueline Kasun about Alan Guttmacher Jnstitute as contained on pages 235 to 238 of her book, entitled "The War

source of the material incorporated into President Nixon's 1969 message to Congress on population" and "a source of inspiration" for the landmark Family Planning Services and Population Research Act of 1970 that followed. By its own account, "key legislators" funneled AGI material into the 1970 legislation, and expert witnesses relied on AGI sources for their testimony on the proposed law, which was passed overwhelmingly by Congress. The institute masterminded the six major planning documents - submitted to Congress in the form of "reports" by the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare - on which congressional family planning appropriations during the ensuing decade were based. They form what the institute calied "a national blueprint for the orderly expansion of services .... " The institute also prepared the much-quoted "cost-benefit" studies that purport to show the great tax savings achieved by the federal family-planning grants and that have been so effective in increasing the flow of congressional appropria-tions. The AGI publications employ questionable statistical methods and reasoning that would justifY the elimination of almost all births in most countries.

Against Population: The Economics and Ideology of World Population Control," a revised and updated
version, to wit:

The institute prepared "need and service

studies" for each of the 50 states as guides for their public birth control plans, as well as instruction manuals for establishing family planning services. AGI has worked tirelessly for legalized, publicly financed abortion-on-demand. It has "proved," to its disciples at least, that abortion is safe and enlisted the president of the Rockefeller

The institute came into existence as an arm

of Planned Parenthood in 1968 when it received Office of Economic Opportunity funds to search all 3,072 counties in the United States for their "poor, fecund, sexually active women not seeking pregnancy who needed subsidized family planning services." Repeated periodically since then, most recently in 1990, the county studies, according to the institute, became "the principal

Foundation to demand its routine provision in

public hospitals. It insists that "restrictions on abortions poise risks to women and to public health."

MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 26. 2011

381
to US$6 million, derived from the World Bank, the United States govemment, Planned Parenthood (also supported by the United States government), a host of foundations - Ford, Rockefeller, Turner, Kaiser, Pew, Hewlett, Mott, Packard, Mellon, among others - and assorted private donors. Jeannie Rosoff was its president in 1996. Its board of directors included the wellknown socialite Robin Chandler Duke, who has served as president and fundraiser for the National Abortion Rights Action League and consultant on population for the Carter administration to the United Nations and is now head of Population Action International: Also on board is Kenneth C. Edel in, who was convicted of homicide in 1975 for killing a baby after an attempted abortion. Other stars studded the board-Malcolm Potts, author of numerous works justifying abortion as essential to world population control, and Fred T. Sai, former population adviser to the World Bank, president of International Planned Parenthood and Chairman of the Cairo Population Conference. Senate President Enrile read into the Record the names and addresses of 36 other organizations that support the measure as listed in pages 234 -278 of Jacqueline Kasun's book, "The War Against Population," to wit:

The institute created the two booklets. II Million Teenagers: What Can Be Done about Ihe Epidemic olAdolescent Pregnancies in the Uniled Siaies (1976); and, Teenage Pregnoncy: The Problem Thai Hasn'l Gone Away (1981), which fueled and oiled the federal drive to stamp out adolescent pregnancy. And AGI materials
served as major sources for the House Select Committee on Population. which reproduced

II Million Teenagers in its entirety in its

committee hearings.

As both "expert" and advocate, the institute has relentlessly promoted compulsory sex education in public schools, complete with free contraceptives and abortions for minors without parental consent. Alarmed and angered by the
growing number of states passing requirements

for parental involvement in minors' abortions,

the institute published a booklet warning that "state laws mandating parental involvement might actually serve to increase the health risks for teenage women" and reiterating that "childbirth is considerably more dangerous than abortion." The institute, along with working title to set up "a citizens' coalition" of "parents, religious leaders, health and social service professionals and the young" to press for its objectives, has never ceased to demand that the public and private sectors pump funds into I'eproductive 'research.' The Guttmacher Institute has masterminded the public manipulation of reproduction in the United States, promoting ab0l1ion, sterilization, and amniocentesis, and genetic screening, as well as foreign population control. In 1981, alarmed by the strength of the opposition to the encroachments of government, the institute mounted a strenuous campaign to 'mobilize opposition' to the pro-lifcrs. With 40 allied organizations, it distributed legislative alerts to thousands in key positions, held countless conferences, and testified to Congress. The institute managed to save Title 10 of Public Health Services Act from being combined with other health blocks grants, despite the Reagan administration's request. Although in 1992 the institute enjoyed the blessings of the Clinton administration, two years later, it found that the "positive and promising agenda" developed by the Cairo population conference and the Beijing conference on women was "not in friendly hands" in the United States Congress. This, of course, required the institute to "redouble its efforts" to bring the blessings of "reproductive health" to the people of the world. A tax-exempt organization, the institute'S annual income doubled between 1982 and 1995

I.

Advocates for Youth (formerly the Center for Population Options) 2025 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 Alan Goodmocher Institute American Association for the Advancement of Science 1200 N.Y. Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20005 American Home Economics Association (AHEA) 1555 K. Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 American Humanist Association Harwood Drive Amhearst, New York 14226 American Public Health Association 1015 15 th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20005

2. 3.

4.

5.

6.

4"

('

382 7, Access to Voluntary and Safe Contraception (A VSC) International (formerly the Association for Voluntary Sterilization) 79 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10016 8, CARE (formerly a food relief organization) 151 Ellis Street N ,E, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303 9, Carolina Population Center University of North Carolina 123 West Franklin Street Chapel Hill, N,C, 17516

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

these had a bearing on what he would be reading into the record regarding the history of the movement which had been the source of the terms contained in Senate Bill No, 2865, He said that he merely wanted the people to have access to such information, Thereupon, he continued reading the list of organizations: IS, Family Planning International Assistance (FPIA) 810 7'" Avenue New York, NY 10019 16. The Ford Foundation 320 East 43'" Street New York, NY 10017 17. International Project Assistance Service (I PAS) P.O, Box 100 Carlboro, NC 27510 18, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) The World Conservation Union Rue Moever Lane 28 CH-1196 Gland Geneva, Switzerland 19. John Hopkins Program for International Education in Reproductive Health (JHPRH) (formerly for Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics) Browns Wharf 161 5 Thames Street Suite 200 Baltimore, Maryland 21231 20. National Academy of Sciences 2101 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20418 21. National Alliance for Optional Parenthood (NAOP) 10010 Massachusetts A venue NW Washington, DC 20036 23, Pathfinder International 9 Gallant Street Watel1own, MA 02172 24. Planned Parenthood Federations (PPFA) 8107'" Avenue New York, NY 10019

10, Center for Development and Population Activities 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20036 II, Center for Population and Family Health Columbia University 60 Haven Avenue NY 100232 12, The Center for Population Option (CPO) (No address) 13, East-West Center 1601 East-West Road Honolulu, Hawaii 96848-160 I 14, Family Health International (formerly International Fel1ility Center Program) Research Triangle Park NC 27709 To expedite the proceedings, Senator Cayetano (P) requested that the addresses of the organizations be submitted to the Secretariat for insertion into the record, However, Senate President Enrile explained that he wanted them formally read for future public reference, He added that he never questioned the right of the sponsors to read their material into the record and, as such, he expected that he would also be granted the same courtesy, Senator Cayetano (P) clarified that although she made the suggestion so that they could move on to the interpellation proper, she did not object to the reading of the list However, she pointed out that the addresses were irrelevant and too many for her to remember. For his part, Senate President Enrile believed that the inclusion of the list was important because

MONDA Y. SEPTEMBER 26. 20 II

383

25. International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Regents College Inner Circle Regents Park, London NW 14 NS England 25(a) International Planned Parenthood Federation Western Hemisphere Regional Office 120 Wall Street 9'" floor New York, NY 10005 26. Population Action International (formerly the Population Crisis Committee and the Draper Fund) I 120 19 th Street NW Washington DC 20036 27. The Population Council I Doug Hammer Sh ield Plaza New York, NY 10017 28. The Population Institute 2107 2"d Street NE Washington, DC 20005 29. Population Reference Bureau 777 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 30. Population Services Intemational I 120 19 th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 3 I. Rockefeller Foundation 1133 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 32. The Sierra Club 730 Polk Street San Francisco, CA 94109 33. Trilateral Commission 145 46'" Street New York, NY 10017 34. World Resources Institute 1709 New York Avenue NW Washington, DC 2006 35. World Watch Institute 1776 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20036 36. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland

37. Zero Population Growth (ZPG) 1400 16'" Street NW Suite 320 Wash ington, DC 20036 Senate President Enrile referred to the definition of "family planning" in Senate Bill No. 2865 "as a program which enables couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and to have access to fu II range of safe, affordable, effective, and modern methods or
preventing or timing pregnancy."

Upon query on whose program was the one mentioned in the bill, Senator Cayetano (1') replied that this program would refer to a government program, which is created and funded by the government, to enable every Filipino, particularly the poor, to avail of family planning. However, she clarified that this does not mean that there are no NGOs or private doctors and organizations that would likewise be promoting similar types of programs. Senator Cayetano (1') pointed out the Section 9 of the Reproductive Health bill refers to making family planning products available, so that this would revolve around the definition of the family planning of the government. She explained that the bill intends to have a definition that can easily be understood by all and point to a specific program that would address the concerns. Asked whether the individuals who were given the right like couples to "decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children" would refer to single parents, Senator Cayetano (1') replied in the affirmative, explaining that the purpose for distinguishing between the individual and the couple is that there are times when the man in particular is uninterested. She revealed that according to a survey, it is really the woman who takes responsibility for deciding on reproductive health matters; hence, it is deemed important to recognize the right of a woman on her own and also for a man to receive the information he would need. Further, she stated that a woman on her own could go to a family planning center within a hospital or in any other health center and inquire into the practice of family planning without being questioned where her spouse is. Asked if the bill likewise deals with the health of the child as well as the parents, Senator Cayetano

384

MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 26. 20 II

(P) said that reproductive health would also affect a young adolescent boy or girl who shall undergo biological changes in his/her body which is covered under reproductive health needs but which has nothing to do with family planning since they are too young to talk about the number and spacing of their children. On whether the health content of the bill is specifically confined to reproductive health or it goes further to the health of a child, Senator Cayetano (P) stressed that reproductive health is part of the health of every human being, be it a male or female, child or adult. She said that anyone has reproductive concerns regardless of age, and depending on a person's need, he or she should be given health care assistance. Asked if the concerns of the bill would also include a newborn, Senator Cayetano (P) replied in the affirmative, saying that there are cases where sexually transmitted diseases are transmitted from the mother to the child. She said that denying the newborn access to reproductive health would be tantamount to condemning the child to die. Asked if the health aspect ofthe bill would apply to a man who does not exercise his right or obligation or biological urge but adopts a newborn, Senator Cayetano (P) stated that a man, whether or not he has a child, and whether he is single or married, has reproductive health care needs. Asked whether the child is also entitled to the benefits of the bill, Senator Cayetano (P) replied that a child, whether natural born or adopted, is covered under the bill. Regarding diseases which are not reproductive health-related, such as dengue, Senator Cayetano (P) pointed out that Senate Bill No. 2865 will not be the controlling public policy for the matter; however, any disease that is transmissible through the reproductive health tract would be addressed under the bill. Asked if the use of the word "individual" in the bill is intended to foster relationships outside wedlock, Senator Cayetano (P) replied in the negative, as she clarified that the primary angle in sex education is to promote abstinence. She said that the moment a woman gets pregnant before getting married is a definition of a sexual relationship outside the bond of marriage.

At this juncture, she acknowledged the presence in the gallery of a unmarried young lady who got married at the age of 17, who was unable to finish school, who has difficulty nurturing her child, who is now very much involved with counselling against teenage pregnancy and the dangers of STDs. She emphasized that it is one instance of what the bill intends to do - preventing sexual relationships that lead to unwanted pregnancies or teenage pregnancies which create economic hardships since teenage mothers are not yet prepared to have a family and to suffer from psychological difficulties. In summary, she said that the bill will address the intentions of drastically reducing the number of Filipinos who become teenage mothers. Asked who invited the Alan Guttmacher Institute to conduct the studies in the country, Senator Cayetano (P) replied that she was told that the University of the Philippines Population Institute conducted the program with the AGI although she would still have to find out who invited the Institute. She said that she is familiar with common local institutions, local academies and educational institutions which everyone knows are funded by foreign agencies for certain types of programs. Senate President Enrile pointed out that the reputation and record of AGI in the academic world and the people who wrote about Dr. Alan Frank Guttmacher are not mere pushovers but were experts in their field. And he expressed concern that the Institute is predisposed to a particular line of attitude in relation to population and birth, and that is to control population and not to deal with health
concerns.

Senator Cayetano (P) said that Senate President Enrile read from the book of Jacqueline Kasun, a strong and tough pro-life advocate and co-founder of Humboldt Pro-Life in 1972, and author of "The War Against Population" published by the Ignatius Press which posed a negative description of the AGI. She emphasized, however, that according to her humble readings, there is a disparity between the pro-lifers who, for the past decades, have continued to put down the work of the pro-choice, and for some reason, the pro-choice advocates have also been striving to promote their cause and to a certain extent, discredit the pro-life movement. Further, she said that she was not surprised that Senate President Enrile's readings from Jacqueline Kasun's article,

MONDA Y. SEPTEMBER 26. 20 II

385

a frontliner of the pro-life movement, would put down the AGI. Senator Cayetano (A) stated that Alan Guttmacher is an Ob-Gynecologist who joined the bil1h control movement in the 1920s, at the time when there were many women dying of unsafe abol1ions, and there were many God-fearing people who chose to protect women by supporting the safe abortion approach. She stated that there was no denying that the AGI and many other organizations have promoted
abortion because they have seen so many women die

found any reference to reproductive health or maternal mortality in the country. He said that he had assumed that the figures bearing on the health of the mother were taken from the studies done by the AGI in 2008 and released in 2010. Senator Cayetano (P) observed that it was highly possible that Senate President EI1I'ile was only referring to one or two chapters ofthe survey. She pointed out that said survey has chapters on fertility, family planning, and other proximate detenninants offertility, fertility preferences, infant and child mortality, maternal health, child health, etc. She stressed that the figures being used by the Committee are reproductive-health related. For instance, she said that even child mortality rate has a lot to do with the maternal mortal ity rate and access to reproductive health. She maintained that many women are at risk of pregnancy-related complications which put the lives of their unborn in danger. She said that infants are at risk if they are born to mothers who are either malnourished or who did not have prenatal health care. On the population issue, Senator Cayetano (P) pointed out that there is a big difference between voluntarily choosing to have a smaller family size and a state-imposed policy to have small families. She stated that based on a study, many couples prefer to have smaller family size, and she posited that the crux of the argument is that the RH bill would affect the population size. Even assuming that the RH Act would result in having smaller population growth, she asked what then the alternative would be for women's reproductive health care. She asked if it was government's alternative to allow women to be deprived of information and services so that they would end up with numerous children they cannot support or allow teenage pregnancy to become prevalent. She believed that reducing the population is just secondary to the real intention ofthe bill which is to inform couples of their right to decide their appropriate family size and to raise their children in accordance with the Universal Declaration on the Rights of a Child. Scnate President Enrile argued that the approach should be to provide the couples with jobs, investments, information and education so that they would get the benefit of development instead of tinkering with the vitality of the nation. . Senator Cayetano (P) noted that she and the Senate President differ on the issue. However, she

in the course of trying to obtain an unsafe abortion. However, she remarked that abortion is a non-issue because it is not allowed in the Philippines and no one wi II promote it. As regards the concern of the University of the Philippines Population Institute's association with the AGI, Senator Cayetano (P) said that for decades, the AGI has earned a strong reputation among researchers, policy community and media in the United States and all over the world, for scientific integrity and deep expertise in analyzing the status and trends in reproductive health worldwide. In fact, she disclosed that presently, the AGI has institutional collaborations with leading U.S. and global research institutions like the John Hopkins and Columbia University schools of public health and the World Health Organization. She clarified through that she was not defending AGI as she did not know them personally. Senate President Enrile stated that the issues he raised were meant to inform the people that whatever the Senate decides, it would be to their benefit or detriment. He expressed his appreciation for the response of Senator Cayetano (P) with respect to Jacqueline Kasun, adding that he has gone over different books on both sides of the issue. As regards his statement that the statistics from the AGI were on population, demography and child health but not on reproductive health, Senate President Enrile clarified that he was referring to the report of the Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey carried out by the National Statistical Office and sponsOl'ed by the USAID, the same material that Senator Cayetano (P) used in her cosponsorship speech when she talked about the fertility ratc in the Philippines. He stated that he had gone through the report several times and never

386

MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 26. 20 II

inquired if the state would put a healthy young mother at risk by refusing her the information and services that she needs. She argued that no job, economic improvement or livelihood oppo'iunities and improvement in educational status will address a mother's reproductive health problem. Asked on the number of women who have reproductive health problems, Senator Cayetano (P) stated that 3,000 to 5,000 women die at childbi'ih, many of whom had to spend their last trimester in hospitals to safely deliver their babies. She inquired if 3,000 to 5,000 deaths do not warrant a reproductive health care policy. She underscored that choosing not to provide the poor women access to RH services is condemning them to die. At this juncture, Senate President Enrile stated that essentially, the issue would be decided by numbers in the Chamber. Asked how the bill was drafted, Senator Cayetano (P) replied that although Senator Defensor Santiago is the author, as Committee chair, she was taking responsibility for its redrafting. She said that she had specifically reviewed the terminologies to ensure that they would be placed in context during the debates and discussions. She assured the Body that none of the terms were chosen because they reflect a ce,iain meaning in another jurisdiction or an international agreement, even as she conceded that there were probably some common terms because many were recommended by the TWG. If ce,iain words seem to have different interpretations in other countries, she said that the Committee would put safeguards to avoid misinterpretation. Senate President Enrile stated that according to Richard and Olden's The Tyranny of Words, words inserted into a statute have a semantical significance depending on their historical origin. He explained that he merely wanted to know if the bill was prepared in the context of the Philippine legal system or if it was borrowed from other jurisdictions or international conventions. Senator Cayetano (P) assured the Body that although certain terms or phrases might be confusing, the Committee would be happy to clarify them or respond to concerns about their usage. Asked on the meaning of the phrase "full range of safe, affordable, effective, and modern methods of preventing or timing pregnancy," Senator Cayetano (P) explained that:

"full range" - refers to the need to provide for different kinds offamily planning services; this covers the range from the conservative allnatural family planning to the modern kinds of family planning; "safe" - the FDA is tasked to look into the safety of the services and products offered; "affordable" - as stated in the Constitution, it is a guaranteed right of the people and the obligation of the State to provide health care to the people; despite the increase in jobs, not too many can afford health care services and if it will be for the benefit of the poorest of the poor, it must be free and for those who are employed, they should take responsibility and care for themselves, but the bill ensures that the products and services are affordable; and "effective" - it is the job of the FDA to determine that what is safe should also be effective.

Senator Cayetano (P) stated that there are different types offamily planning needs in preventing pregnancy or timing pregnancy. She explained that there may be couples who do not want to have any more children or who just want to space their children or who want proper timing as to when to have children. To illustrate the matter of timing, she cited the case of a mother who got married without finishing college but later decided to finish it, so she delayed having more children until after college, at which point, she wanted to have two or more children; after college, she had her second child and decided not to get pregnant until her child reaches five years old. Precisely, she said, the RH bill would allow the mother to time the birth of her children. Senate President Enrile noticed that the definition offamily planning used the phrase "preventing or," and not "preventing and," which are two distinct terms. Asked on the full range of safe, affordable, effective and modern methods of preventing pregnancy, Senator Cayetano (P) replied that the modes for preventing pregnancy and timing pregnancy are not very different but there are methods or modes in preventing pregnancy that are irreversible or permanent. For example, she said that condoms and pills, when used regularly but not for a lifetime, would be among the methods used to time pregnancy or space pregnancy; on the other hand, to prevent pregnancy, the couple or individual can resort to

MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 26. 2011

387

Iigation for the woman and vasectomy for the man, procedures that are deemed to be irreversible and permanent. On whether preventing pregnancy and timing pregnancy are the same, Senator Cayetano (P) said that they are more or less the same. She explained that if a couple decided not to have any more children after the birth of their last child, the woman may opt for ligation, or the man for vasectomy. She clarified that the bill provides that there should be counseling to meet the needs of an individual and the couple prior to family planning, and in cases where a couple has not fully decided on whether or not to have more children, the better option or choice would be something temporary. She disclosed that she has seen in other jurisdictions that voluntary vasectomy and ligation are offered only to either those who already have two or three children or those who have reached the age of 25 because the procedures are irreversible. She said that these methods are not offered to younger couples who may decide, later on, to have more children. Senate President Enrile observed that the definition of "family planning" under the bill speaks of preventing pregnancy apart from timing pregnancy. He said that the term "preventing pregnancy" raises a very serious question - which comes first, pregnancy or conception? He said that this has a very significant impact on the application of safe, atfordable and effective methods of family planning. Responding thereto, Senator Cayetano (P) stressed that the bill only offers contraceptive methods that will not interfere with conception. To address the concerns of some people that the modes of contraceptives allowed under the RH bill might include abortifacients, she clarified that the contraceptives in the drug formulary are only those that will not interfere with fertilization. Senate President Enrile explained that he raised the question because medically, there is a time difference between conception and pregnancy - a woman is pregnant at a certain point after conception, and he asked whether safe, affordable and effective methods to prevent pregnancy would not violate the 1987 Philippine Constitution which provides that, "The State shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn trom conception." In reply, Senator Cayetano (1') said that at the appropriate time, the Committee would be open to c1arificatory amendments. However, she stressed that the inten-

tion of the bill is totally consistent with the statements ofthe members of the Constitutional Commission, as gleaned from their deliberations where it was clearly asserted that the objective was not to allow abortion and no prohibition was placed on the use of contraceptives. Taking a cue tram the statement of Senator Osmefia, Senate President Enrile said that there is a time gap between pregnancy and conception and all the medical books and medical doctors that he had consulted said so. He expressed concern that the employment of safe, affordable and effective modern methods of family planning to prevent or time pregnancy could result in abortion, thereby converting them into abortifacients. For her part, Senator Cayetano (1') said that she has already put on record that there is a strong divide among medical practitioners as regards the question: Where does life begin; does it begin at fertilization or at implantation? She said that the Committee has decided to take the conservative view so as not to put itself at the risk of interpreting the provision in a way that would be potentially harmful to a fetus between the time of fertilization and implantation and has agreed, at the appropriate time, to introduce an amendment that after the sperm and egg meet, the use of products that would interfere with implantation are to be distinguished from those that work prior to that. She believed that this is a very clear definition that can no longer be misinterpreted. Given that affordable and effective family planning methods pose very serious and grave risks to a woman's health, Senate President Enrile asked whether it would be better to allow physicians to prescribe these medicines for certain types of patients. Senator Cayetano (1') agreed, saying that with the exception of condoms, all these products have to be prescribed by doctors. She said that she wanted to correct the misimpression that these products would be peddled on the sidewalks. She said what the bill intends is to make available medical consultations and educational services to individuals and couples. She said that this is supposed to be the current practice, meaning, for instance, the woman is supposed to take the pili upon the recommendation of her doctor. Senate President Enri Ie remarked that the way that bill was written, it seems that the entire machinery of government was free to distribute these products without the participation of doctors. Senator Cayetano

388

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

(P) expressed her gratitude to Senate President Enrile for pointing out this concern as she clarified that the strong arm of the FDA must be in place and consu Itations with the appropriate health professionals must also be in place, She stressed that the bill never intended to do away with the regulatory health practices that have been in place for decades as well as safeguards, She explained that the distinction is that there is a requirement to make these various types of services and relevant education available, At this juncture, Senate President Enrile manifested that he was suspending his interpellations at a later time as there were still many things he wanted clarified,

ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION
Upon motion of Senator Sotto, there being no objection, the Senate President Pro Tempore declared the session adjourned until three o'clock in the afternoon of the following day,

It was 5:53 p,m.

I hereby certify to the correctness of the foregoing,

SUSPENSION OF CONSIDERATION OF SENATE BILL NO. 2865

Upon motion of Senator Sotto, there being no objection, the Body sllspended consideration of the bill.

Approved on October 3, 20 II