Senator Francis Pangilinan (Senate photo) MANILA - Vice presidential aspirant Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Sunday defended his vote on the Rice Tariffication measure in the Senate, stressing that he abstained because he had reservations. During the debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pangilinan got into a heated argument with former lawmaker Walden Bello who questioned the latter's stand on Republic Act (RA) No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication law (RTL) which puts Filipino rice farmers at a disadvantage as it encourages more rice imports. The RTL, which was formally enacted in February 2019, imposes farmer protection tariffs on rice imports in lieu of quantitative restrictions to lower rice prices and ensure its stable supply to 100 million Filipino consumers. Bello asked Pangilinan if he went to the washroom when senators were taking a vote on the measure, noting that he should have voted against the legislat
Senator Francis Pangilinan (Senate photo) MANILA - Vice presidential aspirant Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Sunday defended his vote on the Rice Tariffication measure in the Senate, stressing that he abstained because he had reservations. During the debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pangilinan got into a heated argument with former lawmaker Walden Bello who questioned the latter's stand on Republic Act (RA) No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication law (RTL) which puts Filipino rice farmers at a disadvantage as it encourages more rice imports. The RTL, which was formally enacted in February 2019, imposes farmer protection tariffs on rice imports in lieu of quantitative restrictions to lower rice prices and ensure its stable supply to 100 million Filipino consumers. Bello asked Pangilinan if he went to the washroom when senators were taking a vote on the measure, noting that he should have voted against the legislat