13th Congress of the Philippines | |||||
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Overview | |||||
Term | July 26, 2004 – June 8, 2007 | ||||
President | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | ||||
Vice President | Noli de Castro | ||||
Senate | |||||
Members | 24 | ||||
President |
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President pro tempore | Juan Flavier | ||||
Majority leader | Francis Pangilinan | ||||
Minority leader | Aquilino Pimentel Jr. | ||||
House of Representatives | |||||
Members | 261 | ||||
Speaker | Jose de Venecia Jr. | ||||
Deputy Speakers |
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Majority leader | Prospero Nograles | ||||
Minority leader | Francis Escudero |
Philippines portal |
The 13th Congress of the Philippines (Filipino: Ikalabintatlong Kongreso ng Pilipinas), composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, met from July 26, 2004, until June 8, 2007, during the fourth, fifth, and sixth years of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's presidency. The convening of the 13th Congress followed the 2004 national elections, which replaced half of the Senate membership and the entire membership of the House of Representatives.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in her several State of the Nation Addresses has repeatedly called on Congress to pave the way for the amending of the 1987 Constitution[1] to provide for a unicameral–parliamentary–federal form of government. On December 8, 2006, the administration-dominated House of Representatives, bypassing the Senate, passed in haste House Resolution 1450, which called on Congress to convene into a Constituent Assembly (ConAss) to propose amendments to the Constitution.[2] The House move however, was faced with stiff opposition from the outmaneuvered members of the opposition and all but 1 member of the Senate,[3] which was later bolstered by support from several sectors of the civil society and the influential Roman Catholic Church,[4] which threatened to hold nationwide protest rallies to denounce the House move.[5] Succumbing to the mounting opposition and the apparent withdrawal of support of the President,[6] House Speaker Jose De Venecia later on scrapped the entire resolution and called instead for a constitutional convention, challenging the Senate to concur it in 72 hours.[7] But this too was rejected by the Senate,[8] which preferred to hold a constitutional convention after the 2007 elections.[9] Efforts to amend the constitution during the 13th Congress were eventually shelved.[10]
Laws passed by the 13th Congress: 149 (Republic Act No. 9333 to 9495), as of September 7, 2007[11]
The following are the terms of the senators of this Congress, according to the date of election:
Senator | Party | Term | Term ending | Bloc | |
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Edgardo Angara | LDP | 1 | 2007 | Minority | |
Joker Arroyo | Independent | 1 | 2007 | Majority | |
Rodolfo Biazon | Liberal | 2 | 2010 | Majority | |
Pia Cayetano | Lakas | 1 | 2010 | Majority | |
Miriam Defensor Santiago | PRP | 1 | 2010 | Majority | |
Franklin Drilon | Liberal | 2 | 2007 | Majority | |
Loi Ejercito | PMP | 1 | 2007 | Minority | |
Jinggoy Estrada | PMP | 1 | 2010 | Minority | |
Juan Flavier | Lakas | 2 | 2007 | Majority | |
Dick Gordon | Lakas | 1 | 2010 | Majority | |
Panfilo Lacson | Independent | 1 | 2007 | Minority | |
Lito Lapid | Lakas | 1 | 2010 | Majority | |
Alfredo Lim[a] | PMP | 1 | 2010 | Minority | |
Jamby Madrigal | LDP | 1 | 2010 | Minority | |
Ramon Magsaysay Jr. | Lakas | 2 | 2007 | Majority | |
Serge Osmeña | PDP–Laban | 2 | 2007 | Minority | |
Francis Pangilinan | Liberal | 1 | 2007 | Majority | |
Aquilino Pimentel Jr. | PDP–Laban | 2 | 2010 | Minority | |
Juan Ponce Enrile | PMP | 1 | 2010 | Minority | |
Ralph Recto | Nacionalista | 1 | 2007 | Majority | |
Bong Revilla | Lakas | 1 | 2010 | Majority | |
Mar Roxas | Liberal | 1 | 2010 | Majority | |
Manny Villar | Nacionalista | 1 | 2007 | Majority |