Bernie Benitez

[radar PH @radarph_media]

A newspaper clipping about the young Jovito Salonga is making the rounds online, and it is easy to understand why.

The short article identified Salonga as a 27-year-old law professor who had already earned law degrees from both Harvard and Yale, and had just won the Andrew Cottier Prize for writing the best paper on International Law at Yale.

For many Filipinos, the clipping is not just nostalgia. It is an indictment.

At a time when the Senate is filled with a mix of lawyers, broadcasters, actors, former police officials, political heirs, executives, and career politicians, Salonga’s credentials feel almost unreal.

Long before he became Senate President, Salonga had already topped the Philippine Bar, studied at Harvard and Yale, taught law, and built a reputation as one of the country’s sharpest legal minds.

But Salonga was not admired for brilliance alone. As senator, he became one of the country’s most respected and principled public servants—a lawmaker known for independence, integrity, and courage even when his positions were unpopular.

He fought the Marcos dictatorship, defended political prisoners, survived the Plaza Miranda bombing, and continued speaking truth to power. After EDSA, he chaired the PCGG and helped pursue the recovery of ill-gotten wealth. As Senate President, he also led the historic 1991 vote rejecting the extension of the U.S. bases treaty.

That is why the old clipping stings. At 27, Salonga was already being recognized internationally for scholarship. Later, he proved that intelligence could be matched with moral courage.

The issue is not that only lawyers or academics should sit in the Senate. Public service can come from many professions. But the viral Salonga clipping reminds Filipinos of a higher standard: senators who were not merely famous, but formidable.

In that sense, the post is less about the past than the present. It quietly asks whether voters are still sending their best to the Senate.

[Gregorio Y. Larrazabal @GoyoYLarrazabal]

How can you convince Filipinos to travel to other parts of the Philippines, when it’s cheaper to fly to Hong Kong, Singapore or other ASEAN destinations, than it is to fly to some tourist destinations IN the Philippines?

Make flights cheaper to destinations INSIDE the Philippines. @TourismPHL

[Bernie Benitez @benitezbeecee]

@raffymagno @angatbuhay_ph Thank you for your service, Angat Buhay team! 🙏🏼💕

[Bernie Benitez @benitezbeecee]

@inquirerdotnet You are doing a good job, Sen. Ping! Please stay on and continue the good work for the country.🙏🏼🙏🏼

[Edwin Lacierda @dawende]

ISANG OPEN LETTER KAY G. ANTHONY TABERNA

Hindi Lahat ng Dumaan sa Plenaryo ay Insertion

Hi Anthony,

Kamusta ka na? I hope this letter reaches you in good spirits.

Narinig ko ang paliwanag mo tungkol sa issue ng “insertion” at kay Risa.
Ang intindi ko sa sinabi mo ay lahat ay insertion, kahit yung ginawa sa plenaryo o sa Bicam. Kapag naaprubahan sa plenaryo at dumaan sa Bicam, insertion na rin ‘yon.

At nang sabihin ni Risa na wala siyang ginawang “Bicam insertions” sinabi mo na “technical” ang sagot niya.
Pero Anthony, hindi ito pagiging technical, ito ay pagiging tapat sa proseso.

I. “Amendment” - Ang tanging kinikilalang termino ng batas

Malinaw sa 1987 Constitution, Art. VI, Sec. 24–25(1):

“All appropriation bills shall originate from the House, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments.”

Iyan lang ang opisyal na kapangyarihan ng Senado na magmungkahi o umayon sa amendments.

Walang binabanggit ang Saligang Batas tungkol sa “insertions.”

Ang amendment ay ginagawa habang bukas ang plenaryo, may debate, may boto, at nakatala sa Journal.

Ito ang demokratikong proseso , malinaw kung sino ang nagpanukala at paano ito pinagtibay.

II. “Insertion” - Ang tamang kahulugan at hangganan

Dito kadalasang nagkakagulo.

Ginagamit ng ilan ang “insertion” para ilarawan ang anumang dagdag sa budget. Pero sa batas, ang tawag diyan ay amendment kung ito ay ginawa sa plenaryo o committee hearing.

Iba ang insertion.

Hindi ito termino ng batas. Ito ay praktikal na tawag sa mga idinagdag pagkatapos maisara ang plenaryo, karaniwan sa Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam).

At malinaw ang tungkulin ng Bicam:

“To reconcile disagreeing provisions of the Senate and House versions.”

Ibig sabihin: magrekonsilya, hindi magdagdag.

Kaya kapag may bagong item na pumasok sa Bicam na hindi pinag-usapan sa alinmang bersyon, iyan ang tunay na Bicam insertion, labas sa proseso.

III. Pero hindi lahat ng idinagdag sa Bicam ay mali

May mga pagkakataon na ang Bicam ay nagre-realign lang ng pondong dati nang kasama sa alinmang bersyon. Yan ang tinatawag nating legitimate reconciliation.

Ang problema ay kapag may bagong proyekto o alokasyon na wala sa alinmang bersyon at hindi dumaan sa debate o boto.

Doon ito nagiging irregular o iligal.

Kaya kung gusto nating maging eksakto:

“Amendment” — ginagawa sa liwanag, may tala, may boto.

“Insertion” — ginagawa sa dilim, walang record, walang umaako.

IV. Kaya hindi tamang sabihing “technical” si Risa

Kapag ginamit ni Risa ang terminong “Bicam insertion”, hindi siya nagtatago sa teknikalidad, inaayos niya ang katotohanan.

Precision is not evasion, Anthony. it is just being honest.

Ang pagiging malinaw sa termino ay hindi pagtatago, kundi paninindigan.

V. Halimbawa ng mga totoong “Bicam insertions”

Noong 2019, sina Sen. Ping at ilang senador ay nag-report ng ₱75B na dagdag sa DPWH budget na ginawa sa Bicam nang walang deliberasyon.
Ngayong 2025, muli itong lumitaw, may ₱142.7B na idinagdag umano sa Bicam na wala sa bersyon ng Senado o Kamara.

Iyan ang ibig sabihin ng insertion —
hindi dumaan sa proseso, lumabas lang pagkatapos.

VI. At sa sitwasyon ni Risa

Si Risa ay nagmungkahi ng amendments nang bukas at malinaw, tulad ng ibang senador.

Pero nang makita niyang binawasan ng Bicam ang pondo ng PhilHealth, 4Ps, edukasyon at ₱373B ang nadagdag sa unprogrammed funds, tumanggi siyang pumirma sa Bicam report at bumoto ng “NO” sa 2025 budget.

Kung totoo ngang may insertions siya, bakit niya tatanggihan ang mismong budget na iyon?

🕯️ Panghuli

Hindi lahat ng dumaan sa Plenaryo ay insertion.

Hindi lahat ng dagdag ay mali.

Ngunit ang Bicam insertion, iyong idinagdag nang palihim at walang tala,
iyan ang dapat bantayan.

Huwag sana nating sabihing “technical” ang pagtutuwid ng termino.
Dahil sa panahon ng disinformation,
ang katotohanan mismo ang ating pinakamalinaw na anyo ng katapangan.

Maraming salamat, Anthony. At nawa’y mabuti kayo ng inyong pamilya.

Gumagalang,

Edwin

[Bernie Benitez @benitezbeecee]

Barya?!?! Tone-deaf. Callous. Insensitive. Altogether now, “Ikulong na yan, mga kurakot!!”

[Philstar.com @PhilstarNews]

'BARYA LANG PO ITO, IBIGAY NA PO NATIN'

Sen. Imee Marcos expressed her support for the proposed ₱902.895 million budget for Vice President Sara Duterte’s office for 2026 during a budget briefing on Monday.

Despite the confidential funds issue, the Senate Finance Committee swiftly approved the proposed OVP budget within an hour of deliberation.

Related: https://t.co/vuYUI209u0

[Bernie Benitez @benitezbeecee]

@PhilstarNews What an insulting and callous comment amidst the chaos of greed and corruption!! The thirst for power truly corrupts the soul and mind and makes people insane ! 🤑😵‍💫😵Isipin nyo naman ang taumbayan na nagpapasweldo sa inyo!😡😡😡

[Bernie Benitez @benitezbeecee]

@News5PH @News5PH why do you even give airtime to this kind of propaganda?

[Bernie Benitez @benitezbeecee]

@newswatchplusph Hellowwww!!🙄🙄🙄With all the money and resources available to them, the Discayas can easily pay bodyguards to protect themselves!! Di natin dapat yan problema, Marcoleta!

[Inquirer @inquirerdotnet]

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno highlighted the struggles of ordinary Filipinos in separate Facebook posts, following the Senate’s decision to archive the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to adhere to the Supreme Court ruling.

READ RELATED STORY: https://t.co/FfeCClJVVO

[Bernie Benitez @benitezbeecee]

@News5PH Why is he even being given airtime, @News5PH?

[Bernie Benitez @benitezbeecee]

@PhilstarNews The line between fact and opinion is clearly blurred with this one who claims to be a journalist! Kailangan talagang maturuan ng lesson in proper discernment.

[MajorCrush @CrushMajor]

Queen Cielo Magno unforgiving even if it's Valentine's Day 😂

[Karen Davila @iamkarendavila]

Let’s do the math on AKAP.

Congress gets P26B. If all 316 members get equally, they get P83M each.

If sectoral reps aren’t included, representatives from congressional districts get almost P103M each.

Senate gets P5B. If all 24 senators get AKAP funds equally, they get P208M each.

How is AKAP distributed? How much do they give per constituent? How can we make sure ALL is handed out and not pocketed?

Why are legislators distributing this and not the DSWD? Does this violate the constitution in anyway?

[Bernie Benitez @benitezbeecee]

@ABSCBNNews Shouldn’t this senator also react similarly to the unsubstantiated expense of ₱125M confidential fund in 11 days?

[Rappler @rapplerdotcom]

REMEMBER PHARMALLY? 💸

EXCLUSIVE: The owners of the company lambasted for delayed and substandard supplies during the pandemic were found to have co-owned a multimillion-dollar property in Dubai acquired in 2021.

More in this joint investigation by Rappler and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project: https://t.co/Jf0FwLjg6n

[Mara Cepeda @maracepeda]

Americans get the government they think they deserve. And whether we like it or not, their choice affects the rest of the world.

God bless us all.

[Maria Ressa @mariaressa]

Harry Roque’s ‘footprint is everywhere’ in POGO documents, testimonies – PAOCC https://t.co/eKGheOdOyE via @rapplerdotcom

[iMPACT Leadership @iMPACTPH2019]

'OUR JUDICIARY AND INVESTIGATIVE BODIES NOW HAVE A DUTY TO ACT ON THIS ADMISSION'

House Assistant Majority Leader and Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mika Suansing emphasized the responsibility of government institutions to uphold justice in light of former President Rodrigo Duterte's admission of full legal responsibility for the killings associated with his war on drugs.

Duterte's statement was made during the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee inquiry on the Philippine war on illegal drugs on Monday, October 28.

"Our judiciary and investigative bodies now have a duty to act on this admission," Suansing stated. "The former President’s own words must be met with a serious response. For too long, victims of EJKs have waited for answers."

[Bernie Benitez @benitezbeecee]

@GemoraAudie Unwavering courage powered by facts and wisdom!! Bravo @risahontiveros Sen. Risa! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Mabuhay ka!