MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon on Saturday said that he would expose anyone who attempts to bribe for the Senate leadership post.
“Pag nalaman ko nagka pera-pera dyan, ie-expose ko ‘yan,” Gordon said in an interview over radio station DWIZ.
This comes after Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez bared that top contenders must be willing to shell out P500,000 to P1 million to be the next House Speaker.
READ: ‘Spend P150M to P300M, to be next Speaker’
However, Gordon expressed confidence that his colleagues at the Senate will not engage in vote-buying.
“Dalawampu’t apat lang kami, bakit ganon? Magka-pera pera pa. Pero I’m sure wala naman pera-pera dyan,” Gordons said.
At the Senate, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson disclosed that he has drafted a resolution urging his colleagues to declare their support for incumbent Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
A month before assuming their posts, however, Senators-elect Imee Marcos and Francis Tolentino were reportedly orchestrating moves to have Sotto replaced by reelectionist Senator Cynthia Villar.
READ: Top Senate post still up for grabs
With this, Gordon said that he will sign the resolution in support of Sotto.
“Oo naman, suportado ko si kwan eh, suportado ko si Senator Sotto. Noong araw pa kami magkasama niyan,” Gordon said. “Maayos naman yung [pagpapatakbo] niya kahit papaano, ‘di ba?”
He also believes that Sotto will still retain his Senate president post.
“Sa tingin ko, oo,” Gordon said when asked about Sotto staying as Senate leader.
“Like I said, hindi ako natitigatig dyan, alam niyo naman ako, malinaw ako eh, nakakadesisyon ako at hindi ako nagpapaligaw o nagpapa-importante or nanghihingi ng kapalit,” Gordon maintained. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)