Sotto: Enrile ‘coffee table’ legislation remark ‘obviously’ part of poll campaign

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Saturday hit former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s allegation of “coffee table” legislation in the Senate, saying such remark is “obviously” part of the veteran politician’s election campaign.

“Obvious na obvious na pangkampanya. Maganda na statement para sa kandidato. (Obviously, it is for campaigning. It is a good statement for candidates.)” Sotto told local radio station dwIZ.

On Wednesday, Sotto had already denied Enrile’s claims, saying the Senate engages in long debates before passing controversial bills.

“He must be being given wrong information,” the senator said. “The bills in the plenary are being debated and languishing in plenary before passage, if controversial, and smoothly passed if beneficial or non-controversial and/or if the bill is of local application.”

READ: Sotto to Enrile: What ‘coffee table’ discussions?

Earlier, Enrile criticized the alleged practice in the Senate today where proposed measures were supposedly approved without debate.

According to the 94-year-old politician, no bills were passed without debate during his 24 years in the chamber.

READ: Enrile hits ‘coffee table’ legislation in Senate

“Today, they go into a coffee table and they discuss it among themselves and that’s it. That’s not a Senate,” Enrile said.

Enrile has joined the senatorial race in the 2019 midterm elections. /kga