Bribery has ‘never happened’ in Senate, says Sotto
MANILA, Philippines — Paying for votes to win a position has never happened in the upper chamber of Congress, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Friday.
“It (bribery) has never happened in the Senate, and I don’t think it will ever happen if it would happen. Siguro sisingaw kasi 24 (senators) lang yan e,” Sotto said over AM radio station dzMM.
Sotto’s reaction came after former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez previously revealed that the top contenders of the House speakership must be willing to offer P50,000 to P1 million per vote to win the post.
Alvarez, however, declined to name those who are behind this alleged vote-buying scheme.
READ: ‘Spend P150M to P300M, to be next Speaker’
Sotto said some senators would only engage in a meeting about a specific position in the Senate but will never resort to bribery or buying of votes.
“Pwede rin sabihan, ‘Halika sumama ka sa’ min at ano gusto mo chairmanship makukuha mo.’ Pero yung suhol o binibili yung boto hindi pa nangyayari sa senado yun (It’s possible to say, ‘Hey, join us What committee do you want to chair? But votes? The Senate will not allow it),” he said. (Editor: Eden Estopace)
