MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Tolentino on Wednesday defended the Senate from criticism that it “remained silent” and has frozen into inaction during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Mr. President, yung sinasabi po nila na walang ginagawa ang Senado, Ang sagot diyan ay, ‘No.”; The Senate has not remained silent, nor has it succumbed to inaction,” Tolentino, speaking to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, said in his privilege speech.
(Mr. President, on the accusations they are raising that the Senate has done nothing, my answer is no. The Senate has not remained silent, nor it did succumb to inaction.)
Tolentino raised his concerns as he said there have been “fake news” circulating that senators did nothing during the pandemic.
“The reckless provocations, fake news, most often for pettiest and personal reasons – not having to do whatsoever with the role of a Senator in the current Coronavirus crisis– should never be regarded as new normal,” the administration senator said.
“We should never allow purveyors of fake news and vested interest to desecrate the Senate as an institution,” he added.
To answer such claims, Tolentino highlighted the Senate health committee hearing tackling the COVID-19 threat, and the special session held March 25 to pass Republic Act 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.”
Aside from this, the senator added that the Senate opened its regular session on Monday, and it adopted measures of “hybrid” proceedings through Senate Resolution No. 372.
The Philippines currently faces the COVID-19 pandemic, where over 10,000 people have contracted the disease as of Wednesday.
Of the total number of cases, 1,506 managed to recover while 658 succumbed to the disease.
Worldwide, the COVID-19 has infected over 3.7 million people, with 258,973 fatalities.