Rappler's latest stories on Franklin Drilon
Lawmakers refute ‘misguided’ Calida: Gov’t can tax POGOs
'The opinion of the OSG is erroneous, misplaced and misguided. It does not serve the interest of the country. Who will benefit from it?' asks Senator Franklin Drilon
Drilon questions P50-million ‘kaldero’ for 2019 SEA Games
(UPDATED) ‘We do away with 50 classrooms to build a P50-million kaldero that we use only once? I am not even talking about overpricing. I'm talking about propriety,’ the Minority Floor Leader says
Drilon says original Build, Build, Build list 'not well-thought-of'
'What we're saying is that maybe the original 75 flagship projects were not well-thought-of so that we revise them in the middle of the stream,' says Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
Drilon calls Build, Build, Build a 'dismal failure'
(UPDATED) 'We can have a thousand projects, that's all theoretical… If it is actual construction with actual disbursements, that would propel our economy,' says Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
Senate to check AFP-Dito deal before Lorenzana decides on it
Opposition lawmakers want a chance to back out of a deal that might give the Chinese government '130 listening posts' all over the Philippines
Senators joke Peralta is next chief justice
Justice Diosdado Peralta, the most senior of the applicants, represents the judiciary in budget hearings of both chambers of Congress
Drilon: PAO forensic lab a duplication, 'waste of money'
Things get heated and comical as Senator Drilon grills chief public attorney Persida Acosta
Give DOJ direct control over BuCor – Drilon
Former justice secretary and now senator Franklin Drilon backs the DOJ's proposal to review the law that only gave it 'administrative supervision' over the BuCor
Sanchez's wife learned about ex-mayor's release via 'anonymous' text
(UPDATED) Asked for her phone with the supposed anonymous text message, Elvira Sanchez tells senators that she has thrown out her mobile phone just that morning because of death threats she received over the last two weeks
Drilon hits 'terrible' Build, Build, Build performance
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also takes a swipe at the Commission on Elections for not exempting infrastructure projects from the public works ban during the May 2019 polls
Drilon wants Senate probe into rape-slay convict Sanchez's reduced sentence
(UPDATED) Antonio Sanchez, who was convicted for 7 terms of reclusion perpetua for rape and murder, has been caught with P1.5-million worth of shabu in his cell
COA approves special audit of Philhealth funds – Drilon
Senate Minority Franklin Drilon also says the Commission on Audit will conduct an 'accurate review' of the actuarial life of Philhealth
LOOK: Senators take a sip of alcopops during alcohol tax hearing
Alcopops have an alcohol content of 7%, yet they're packaged like a juice drink for children. A senator says the packaging needs to change.
CPP slams bid to revive Anti-Subversion Law
Reviving the law would only 'further rouse the people to resist President Rodrigo Duterte's tyranny' and 'foment greater dissent,' the Communist Party of the Philippines says in a statement
After provincial bus ban mess, senators want review of MMDA powers
'The reason for the injunction is that the MMDA admitted that they have no power and it belongs to the LGU. It's an opportunity for us to review this particular aspect,' says Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
Supreme Court affirms jail sentence vs Drilon critic in libel case
Although courts prefer imposing fines over jail sentences in libel cases, the Supreme Court upholds the discretion of the lower courts to put Manuel Mejorada behind bars for 2 to 4 years
Drilon, Lacson want De Lima to join Senate sessions via teleconferencing
'At least makaka-contribute siya para pagyamanin ang panukalang batas.... Hindi naman siya aalis ng kanyang selda,' says Senator Panfilo Lacson
Drilon files cyber libel complaint vs former Iloilo provincial official
The senator says Manuel Mejorada continues to publish 'malicious' content against him despite his conviction in a previous libel case
Drilon says Cha-Cha 'laid to rest' without SONA mention
But Duterte partymate and PDP-Laban president Senator Aquilino Pimentel III says 'federalism will always be part of political discourse and agenda' as long as political parties that advocate it exist
Drilon seeks ban on garbage importation
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says the passage of his proposed bill will 'send a clear message to other countries that the Philippines is not a landfill'
Drilon brings back anti-political dynasty bill in 18th Congress
'The Constitution entrusted to Congress the duty to end political dynasties. Unfortunately, we have failed in our duty and, hence, political dynasty still persists and so does poverty,' says Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
Senators oppose joint Recto Bank probe by PH, China
(2nd UPDATE) 'It will never be a fair investigation when one is the oppressed and the other is the oppressor,' says Senator Francis Pangilinan
Lacson: Duterte's statement on Recto Bank incident 'left us heartbroken'
(3rd UPDATE) 'He forgot to explore all resources available before exercising his last option of surrender,' Senator Panfilo Lacson says of President Rodrigo Duterte's first-ever statement on the Philippine boat sinking in the West Philippine Sea
Drilon calls for special audit of PhilHealth funds
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also says the Senate minority bloc will file a resolution seeking an investigation into the alleged payment of PhilHealth funds for 'ghost' kidney treatments
Drilon trumpets minority bloc's achievements in 17th Congress
'We are proud of what we have done. We can look people in the eye, critics or otherwise, because we know that we did not fail them,' says Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
Drilon: No-cloture rule ‘prevents Senate from being a rubber stamp’
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says the Senate’s no-cloture rule will allow opposition senators to ask questions without being hampered by the majority
Drilon to Senate newbies: Study first, leadership quarrels later
'Sana mag-aral po muna 'yung mga baguhan,' says Senate veteran Franklin Drilon
Rappler Talk: Franklin Drilon on how the opposition will navigate the next 3 years
On Friday, May 31, Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug sits down with Senator Franklin Drilon to discuss the challenges opposition senators are expecting to face
Lacson, Drilon question bill granting franchise to Legarda son's solar firm
Senator Panfilo Lacson says granting Solar Para sa Bayan a franchise might violate the Electric Power Industry Reform Act
Senators hail Duterte veto of P95.3-B infra funds in 2019 budget
Senators say President Rodrigo Duterte's veto of questionable allotments in the 2019 national budget serves as a 'victory' for taxpayers
Drilon: Build youth centers first before lowering age of criminal responsibility
‘The problems lie in the implementation of the law and that is what the amendments should focus on,’ says Senator Franklin Drilon
Senators hit LGUs' lack of funding for youth detention, rehab centers
According to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council, there are only 63 Bahay Pag-Asa or youth detention and rehabilitation centers in the country
Senate to begin hearing bills on lowering age of criminal liability
Senate bills are pushing for a slightly higher minimum age, 12 years old, than the House of Representatives' proposal of 9 years old
Gov’t can implement salary hike without 2019 budget – lawmakers
House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr warns he would take DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno to court if the government fails to implement the salary hike by January 15
Senate urges Malacañang to stop release of funds from road user’s tax
The passage of the resolution comes amid an apparent deadlock between the Senate and the House of Representatives, after the latter rescinded its approval of the bill seeking to abolish the Road Board
'Martial law cannot be the new norm in Mindanao' – Drilon, Escudero
Likening martial law to an antibiotic, Senate Minority Franklin Drilon says, 'It is resorted to only when ordinary over-the-counter drugs have ceased to work'
No actual rebellion, no data to back martial law extension – lawmakers
Military chief Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal Jr says there is also no allocation in the proposed 2019 budget for another year-long extension of martial law in Mindanao
'Frat war' erupts between Drilon, Gordon during Senate budget deliberations
It starts when Senator Richard Gordon praises his 'brod,' UP president Danilo Concepcion, prompting Senator Franklin Drilon to tease him back
Drilon questions inclusion of P7.5-B SEA Games budget in DFA
It was former foreign secretary Alan Peter Cayetano who requested it, but Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon points out that sports development is not a task for the Department of Foreign Affairs
Opposition senators seek probe into Sagay farmers' massacre
(UPDATED) 'This is not an isolated case as it only reflects the prevailing situation in many farmlands around the country,' says the 6-member Senate minority bloc
Senators divided over Arroyo's push for PH withdrawal from IPU
'Arroyo’s proposal is despairing, defeatist, and will be seen by the world as a tacit admission that indeed critical lawmakers are being persecuted under the Duterte administration,' Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says
Minority senators seek Senate probe into spate of Cebu killings
'As duty bearers, the PNP must observe proper operational procedures in order to fulfill the organization’s obligation with respect to human rights-based policing,' says the Senate opposition bloc
Opposition senators seek suspension of fuel tax
Minority senators are hopeful that their colleagues will support the initiative this time
'Dead on arrival': Senate leaders reject Arroyo's draft charter
'We don't have time to even talk about it,' says Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who stands to benefit from the House proposal
Duterte allies in Senate downplay medical tests
The President is healthy enough to discharge his duties, say Senators Ralph Recto and Koko Pimentel
Drilon to Duterte: Rethink military general's appointment to DSWD
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says President Duterte may instead consider a civilian career official with extensive experience in social welfare for the job
Drilon dares Malacañang: File charges vs LP members in Duterte ouster plot
'Let me borrow Secretary Roque's own words. We should not take Roque seriously,' says Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon after the Palace official insisted on the Liberal Party's role in an alleged Duterte ouster plot
DILG backs AFP's proposed anti-communist task force
A former Armed Forces chief himself, DILG Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año says the country's long-running communist insurgency 'is not primarily a military or police problem but a governance problem'
Drilon questions DOLE statistics on foreigners working in PH
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon does not believe only 40,000 foreigners work in the Philippines
