Palace: Nothing wrong with Lapid using Filipino language in RH debates

Malacañang sees nothing wrong with the use of either English or Filipino in the congressional debates on the controversial Reproductive Health bill. "We don’t see any problem if they debate in either Filipino or in English. We would like all voices to be heard naman po sa Senado at saka sa Mababang Kapulungan," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing Thursday. Lacierda made the comment amid Senator Lito Lapid’s admission that he finds it difficult to join the Senate debates on RH bill due to his poor English. "Pambansang wika po natin ang Filipino. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago admitted mahina po siya [sa] Filipino, si Senator Lito Lapid ay magaling sa Filipino. Eh ‘di ‘yung isa mag-Ingles, ‘yung isa mag-Tagalog—nagkakaintindihan naman eh," he said. Lacierda added there is no constitutional requirement that one should be a college graduate to be a senator. He said the law provides that for one to become a senator, he must be 40 years of age, able to read and write and a resident of the country for at least two years. "You would disenfranchise people who [were not able to enter college] because of poverty but who have big hearts and who are smart to become deserving public officials," he said. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ/HS, GMA News