Senator Imee R. Marcos
Statement

Some senators have approached me with the proposal to be their candidate for Senate President. Whoever will be elected by our peers, whether it is me or not, there are certain congressional reforms that need to be undertaken.

The most important is reform in the budgetary process. Tigilan na ang mahiwagang bicam. The right priorities in spending, considering our recurring fiscal deficits and huge indebtedness, must be legislated: food security and support to our farmers and fishermen; education; health and truly necessary social services.

Parenthetically, once the OP has submitted the NEP to Congress, the power of the purse must be respected. The DBM statement that the president will involve himself in the budgetary process after the NEP is submitted is infirm and unconstitutional.

We should also start electoral reforms, including political party reforms which have become mere tools for personal ambition rather than the public interest.

Above all, the Senate as the guardian of national interest must always be upheld; its independence non-negotiable.