Joker twits Noy for defying Gloria’s holiday economics law

Sen. Joker Arroyo yesterday twitted President Aquino for defying the previous administration’s “holiday economics” style.

If the executive department doesn’t want to follow, they should move to repeal the law, he said.

“If Malacañang doesn’t like it, those ‘little boys’ there, all they have to do is ask for its repeal and we will debate it all over again. But since that is the law, they should follow the law,” the senator told reporters at a press conference.

Aquino declared Nov. 16 (Tuesday) a national and non-working holiday in celebration of the Eid’l Adha, or the Islam feast of sacrifice, through Proclamation 60, based on Republic Act 9849, which provides that Eid’l Adha shall be celebrated as a national holiday, though a movable date.

Aquino did not move it, as the law provides.

Eid’l Adha is one of Islam’s two major festivals celebrated by 1.6 billion Muslims around the world.

Arroyo, who authored RA 9492 which rationalizes holidays, was reacting to the Palce declaration of a non-working holiday in celebration of the Eid’l Adha, or the Islam feast of sacrifice.

The senator had already chastised the executive when it announced plans to review the previous administration’s holiday economics policy, saying that Aquino’ advisers are misinformed.

Moving legal holidays to the nearest Monday was not discretionary on the part of former President Arroyo but was done in compliance with the law, the senator said in pointing out to Malacañang.

“That bill was enacted into law because of the request of big business. They say they cannot plan anything if the President will just keep on announcing the last minute about what will be declared a holiday and what will not be declared a holiday.

“You can imagine, they will change (that policy). They’re thinking about it (reviewing the policy) and they’re announcing it (now that there is a coming holiday). Really, (they think as if they’re) little boys,” he said in between laughs.

“If they want, we could repeal it but they cannot keep on thinking about it every time there’s a forthcoming holiday,” the senator said. –Angie M. Rosales, Daily Tribune