Rappler's latest stories on Carlos Zarate
'Big blow against press freedom': ABS-CBN franchise bill authors slam panel verdict
But these lawmakers can't file an appeal on behalf of ABS-CBN, as only those who voted with the majority – the legislators who rejected the franchise – can make a motion for reconsideration as per House rules
ABS-CBN defenders make last stand: ‘Why punish a company that did not breach laws?’
The House committee on legislative franchises' technical working group will draft recommendations on whether to grant ABS-CBN a franchise. They may vote on July 10, 2020.
Lawmakers fear fake Facebook accounts meant for 'online tanim-ebidensiya'
'We must not allow social media to be used as a platform for identity theft, intimidation, or worse, a tool to plant bogus evidence,' says Senator Francis Pangilinan
House, Senate dissenters: 'Emergency actions, not powers' needed vs coronavirus
Only 10 legislators – 9 from the House and 1 in the Senate – opposed the bill giving President Rodrigo Duterte at least 27 'special' powers vs to address the COVID-19 crisis
Lawmakers ask DOF, BIR: Don’t be ‘heartless,' extend tax filing deadline
'Hindi kami nanghihingi ng pera. Magbabayad kami ng buwis. Pero huwag mo naman sabihin sa amin na magbayad kami 2 araw matapos ang quarantine na in-impose niyo,' says Congressman Joey Salceda
House OKs bill creating Department of Filipinos Overseas and Foreign Employment
But Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman says the measure will encourage and promote the 'export of Filipino manpower'
'Unconstitutional' to let foreigners own public utilities – opposition lawmakers
If passed into law, House Bill 78 would allow foreigners to fully own telecommunication and transportation companies in the Philippines which is 'fatally violative of the Constitution' the lawmakers say
Bayan Muna, Karapatan condemn ‘witch hunt’ vs Lumad evacuees in Davao City
Paramilitary group Alamara allegedly forcibly enters the UCCP Haran compound where Lumad evacuees have taken refuge since 2015
Militant lawmakers slam 'police brutality' at Nazareno 2020
House Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Zarate says the PNP's 'use of excessive force' against the devotees turned the Traslacion into 'a police march rather than a show of faith and devotion to the Black Nazarene'
Petition vs EDSA provincial bus ban hits a bump
(3rd UPDATE) Even with a Supreme Court dismissal, there is still an injunction on the bus ban issued by a Quezon City court in July 2019 that favors provincial operators
Behind closed doors, lawmakers OK resolution amending Constitution
The House committee on constitutional amendments discreetly approves a resolution easing restrictions on foreign investments and extending the terms of House members and LGU officials to 5 years
Opposition 'not surprised' by Robredo's firing as ICAD co-chair
(UPDATED) Senators say the Duterte administration 'got snared in their own trap' and their plan 'to make [Vice President Leni Robredo] look weak backfired'
Fact-finding team with 2 congressmen barred from entering Negros police HQ
Congressman Carlos Zarate laments that Colonel Romeo Baleros, the Negros Occidental police provincial chief, 'did not extend basic courtesy ' due fellow government employees
After demolition, elderly prisoners sleep outdoors in Bilibid
(UPDATED) Makabayan lawmakers visit the New Bilibid Prison to check on the living conditions of inmates
House OKs 2020 budget on final reading
The progressive Makabayan lawmakers, however, blast the lack of transparency in the swift approval of the 2020 budget
Still not pork? P100 million for each lawmaker in 2020 budget
(UPDATED) Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda, House committee on appropriations vice chair, says the executive branch determined the amount to be allotted per House member
Ombudsman’s GCTA probe covers ex-BuCor chiefs Faeldon, Dela Rosa
Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Zarate extracts the confirmation from the Office of the Ombudsman as it defended its proposed 2020 budget in the House plenary
Robredo camp on attack vs Abante: 'Brazen assault on our free press'
(UPDATED) 'This attempt to intimidate and silence Abante...must be resisted by all freedom-loving Filipinos,' says the spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo
At budget hearing, Lorenzana dares Makabayan bloc to condemn CPP-NPA
In a face-off with the defense chief, leftist lawmakers denounce 'red-tagging' by the government and challenge him to show evidence of their alleged involvement with the New People’s Army
Despite Duterte veto, Makabayan bloc refiles anti-endo bill in House
For the progressive lawmakers, President Rodrigo Duterte's veto 'reflected his true bias' and priority of business interests over workers' welfare
Makabayan seeks House probe into death of 3-year-old in buy-bust
'The drug war has impaired the future of thousands of Filipino children,' say the 6 progressive legislators who filed the House resolution
Makabayan bloc fields Zarate in speakership race
'Panahon na para sa isang Speaker na tunay na makabayan,' says the Makabayan bloc
Zarate: Why declare entire Mindanao as election hot spot?
'It is unbelievable that every province and city in the whole island had enough basis to be declared a hot spot,' says Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate
Lowering criminal liability age to 12 'still attacks children' – Makabayan
The left-leaning lawmakers argue that the last-minute changes to the bill would still 'criminalize' children in conflict with the law
Satur Ocampo, France Castro say nothing illegal in 'humanitarian' mission
ACT Teachers Representative France Castro challenges Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde to visit Lumad schools, following his allegations these are being used for communist teachings
Leftist congressmen: Duterte inciting civilians to kill
Makabayan lawmakers say President Duterte's planned 'death squad' against communist rebels proves there are state-sanctioned vigilante killings under his administration
Lawmakers hit military 'takeover' of BOC: 'Martial law na ba?'
'It's an extreme response, putting a purely civilian bureaucracy under military control. It's as if President Duterte has imposed nationwide martial law,' says Akbayan Representative Tom Villarin
Duterte 'recycled' Lapeña to prevent shabu probe backlash – lawmakers
Opposition lawmakers say President Duterte has given government positions to former military and police officers 'not suited for the jobs they are rewarded with'
House aims to pass draft federal charter by early 2019
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has given the House committee on constitutional amendments marching orders to finish work on the proposed new charter 'on time'
Arroyo’s draft charter skips VP in transition to federalism
The draft constitution, which has reached the House plenary for deliberations, sets for May 2022 the first elections under a federal system of government
Arroyo's draft constitution removes lawmakers' term limits
Resolution of Both Houses No. 15, authored by Speaker Gloria Macagapal Arroyo and 21 others, also does not regulate political dynasties
Mocha Uson’s resignation long overdue 'but whiff of fresh air' – lawmakers
(UPDATED) 'Government service, while it is about trust, it is also about accountability. And that is what is sorely lacking from her,' says Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate
Makabayan bloc wants annual commemoration of First Quarter Storm
House Bill 8271 seeks to commemorate the turbulent period in Philippine history marked by mostly student-led mass demonstrations and protests against the Marcos dictatorship
Zarate reminds Andanar: Mocha Uson paid with public funds
Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate finds it strange that Uson is not held accountable for her actions, yet other government officials get fired or are forced to resign for alleged offenses
DOJ didn’t verify before seeking terrorist tag for 649 people
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says: 'The DOJ itself did not have any personal verification of any connection by these individuals with the CPP or the NPA'
House OKs on 3rd reading bill vs privatization of public hospitals
Under House Bill 7437, at least 90% of the total bed capacity of all public hospitals would be allotted for poor patients
NutriAsia protesters violently dispersed despite regularization talks
(UPDATED) The dispersal occurs at the picket line of the group across from NutriAsia's Marilao plant in Bulacan
Makabayan slams Arroyo’s ‘naked power grab’ in House
Gabriela Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas said they will not support Arroyo, adding, 'Filipino women do not tolerate corrupt people in power, even if it is a ‘She''
Makabayan bloc seeks probe into Duterte order vs 'tambays'
(UPDATED) The progressive legislators also want to investigate the death of Genesis Argoncillo, a 25-year-old nabbed by the police in its anti-tambay operations and who later died in prison
Affirmed Sereno ouster shows 'compromised' SC – opposition lawmakers
'We are in the cusp of legal oblivion where power matters over pure reason,' says Akbayan Representative Tom Villarin
Makabayan lawmakers seek Filipino citizenship for Sister Patricia Fox
The Makabayan bloc says Filipino citizenship would be a 'fitting recognition' for the Australian nun's 'selfless service' to poor and oppressed Filipinos in the past 27 years
With Sereno ouster, SC committed ‘hara kiri’ on judiciary’s independence – lawmakers
Albay Representative Edcel Lagman says the SC 'committed hara kiri with its bludgeoning the independence of the judiciary and desecrating the sanctity of the Constitution'
'Walang bago': Makabayan lawmakers unimpressed with Duterte EO on endo
'Reiteration lang 'yan ng existing labor laws that [have] been proven [to be] anti-worker,' says Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao
Duterte critics slam detention of 71-year-old Australian nun
Lawmaker Carlos Zarate refutes claims that Sister Patricia Fox is engaging in partisan activities, as upholding human rights is not a form of meddling
Makabayan bloc asks SC to allow intervention in petition vs Sereno
The House Makabayan bloc argues that the quo warranto petition seeking to void the Chief Justice's appointment would cause them to be 'deprived of their collective right' to bring the impeachment process to a 'logical conclusion'
Leftists slam rearrest of NDF consultant over 'trumped-up charges'
Malacañang says it would be a 'dereliction of duty' not to arrest National Democratic Front consultant Rafael Baylosis
House approves security of tenure bill on 3rd reading
Should it be passed into law, the measure would ban hiring workers for limited periods of time, or what is known as 'fixed-term' labor contracts
SC orders government to answer petition vs tax reform law
(UPDATED) The House Makabayan bloc says the law is invalid because the ratification that occurred at the Lower House violated rules
Calida mocks petitioners vs tax reform law: 'Is that all you have?'
'Why am I not surprised at your blatant disrespect for basic democratic principles, Mr Solicitor General?' says ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio, one of the petitioners
Bayan Muna warns of graft, corruption if martial law extended
'The mentioned reasons in [the President's] letter do not warrant an extension of martial law as the same can be addressed by normal police and military powers,' says Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate
