The election of administration allies in the Senate won’t guarantee that controversial measures pushed by President Duterte will breeze through the chamber, said Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Sotto allayed anew fears that the Senate will be less independent and easily pass Duterte-backed legislation when more Palace allies occupy its seats, particularly the shift to federalism and the reimposition of death penalty. Both measures remain idle in the Senate since Duterte assumed presidency in 2016.
“No guarantees on anything at this point,” Sotto said.
But Sotto believed that the incoming senators, despite their support for Duterte’s leadership, will not be dictated by the Executive. He even dared critics of the government.
“Masusunod lahat ng gusto ng admin? How much are they willing to bet?” he said. “Remember, we have six reelectionists all from the majority, three returnees who will most probably be with the majority, and three President’s men only,” he noted.
Sotto said the new set of senators in the Senate majority would have to discuss first how they would tackle issues “specially the controversial ones.”
The Senate leader said they will only approve measures that would benefit the public. “Kapag mali, hindi pwede, ‘pag tama, suportahan natin. Kasi para sa bayan ‘yan…Publiko ang bida, hindi yong Pangulo,” he said.
“‘Pag tama ‘yung Pangulo, sundin mo dahil gusto ng publiko ‘yun. Suportahan mo. Huwag ‘yong tama ang Pangulo, kokontrahin mo dahil hindi mo gusto,” he added.
Echoing Sotto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Senate will not railroad the passage of bills should they find them disadvantageous to the people.
“The Senate as an institution will always continue to remain independent as proven by our track record in passing legislation. When we see an administration-led measure that is good for the people then we support it, but if we see it needs further study and debate then we don’t force it or rush into it,” Zubiri said, citing their position on the second tranche of the Duterte government’s tax reform package.
“The Senate will guarantee our people quality legislation and we have been doing that as an institution,” he added.
Reelectionist Sen. Koko Pimentel, candidate of the ruling PDP-Laban, also assured that administration allies would be independent from Duterte once proclaimed.
“Sa nature ng institusyon, nagiging independent-thinkers po kami, kasi ang pakiramdam mo, ang mandato mo ay galing sa taong-bayan. So ang loyalty mo is to the people, not to any person,” Pimentel said.
“This will really be an independent Senate. Pati naman kami na natulungan ni President Duterte, magiging independent,” he said. (Vanne Terrazola)