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MANILA -- The Philippines should hold talks with Japan on conditions set by the Senate before it votes on the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said on Monday.

Santiago said it was メhighly laudableモ of Japanese Ambassador to Manila Makoto Katsura to explore the possibility of an exchange of notes that will facilitate Senate concurrence on the treaty.

She said that when the Senate discovered メcertain constitutional infirmitiesモ in the JPEPA, she notified the presidential palace and requested for steps to be taken for a remedial exchange of notes between the two countries.

メAt that time, the Japanese government refused to consider the matter. Iユm now happy to report for the record that the Japanese government has softened its position and is now willing at least to explore the possibility of an exchange of notes,モ said Santiago.

In a statement, she pointed out that her original recommendation (on JPEPA) was for the Senate to extend conditional concurrence, to be followed by an exchange of notes between the two governments.

メNow we shall reverse the process: exchange of notes shall come first, to be followed by Senate concurrence,モ she said. This will mean that the Senate will postpone action on JPEPA for メan unspecified length of time.モ Santiago, who circulated a proposed resolution on conditional concurrence last week, postponed her sponsorship speech on JPEPA Monday.

Santiago said several senators asked for more time to study the report.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also asked the Senate to defer deliberations to have time to explore the possibility a possible exchange of notes before the Senate acts on the treaty. CM/DMS