Senate Welcomes Newly Appointed PLLO Secretary Adelino Sitoy

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III welcomed former Cordova, Cebu Vice-Mayor Adelino Sitoy, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs and the head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO). Sitoy took his oath of office before Pimentel last Monday.

Sitoy’s appointment became effective last September 1, 2016. He will be holding office at Malacañang Palace. The municipality of Cordova is in the Province of Cebu.

Pimentel said that under Sitoy, he expects the PLLO to be able to push President Duterte’s legislative agenda more vigorously.

“I have to push the administration’s bills, and I have to establish good relations with the Senate and the House. My principal task is to coordinate with both Houses of Congress. I am also tasked to brief the President and the Cabinet on pending bills, and whatever events are happening in both chambers,” Sitoy said.

Besides being the liaison between the President and all senators and congressmen, Sitoy will be monitoring legislative measures being deliberated on in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, such as bills on anti-terrorism, emergency power, and the shift to federalism.

“It is a matter of pushing through the President’s agenda, and principal among the agenda is the move towards federalization. After the budget hearing, we can start moving towards federalization. We will do our best to achieve more than before,” Sitoy said.

Appointed together with Sitoy is PLLO Assistant Secretary Astravel Pimentel Naic, who took her oath of office in Malacanang last August 15, 2016. (Yvonne A. Almirañez)