Solon slams some senators for ‘showboating’ after ratifying Bayanihan 2

MANILA, Philippines — A congressman on Saturday slammed some senators for “showboating in aid of reelection” after the upper chamber of Congress ratified the consolidated version of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 bill, which seeks to improve the country’s response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

“It is clear as daylight that these pathetic senators have been seized by political schizophrenia in slyly positioning way ahead of the 2022 elections at the expense of the House of Representatives. This is showboating in aid of reelection,” House Deputy Speaker Danilo Fernandez said in a statement.

READ: Senate ratifies Bayanihan 2

The congressman said the so-called senators are making it look like they did their part in approving the measure to please supporters of the Duterte administration as well as distancing themselves from the bill to support the critics of the government.

“These senators appear conflicted. They want to make it appear that they did their part in passing Bayanihan 2, obviously to worm their way into the good graces of an overwhelming majority of our people who support President Duterte and are appreciative of his Administration’s comprehensive COVID-19 response measures, but they are at the same time distancing themselves from the bill, obviously to please the ragtag band of anti-government critics,” he said.

Fernandez noted that he was offended by insinuations made by some senators that the House of Representatives reportedly fought for a “particular personal interest.”

Fernandez also claimed that the Senate only adopted the majority of good features that were introduced by the House of Representatives.

“If our high and mighty senators feel that the consolidated Bayanihan 2 bill was not up to their standards, then why did they approve it during the bicam talks? The truth is a majority of the good features of Bayanihan 2 were actually introduced by the House and were only adopted by the Senate,” he said.

Senator Pia Cayetano, sister of House Speaker Alan Cayetano, also previously took offense of such remarks from her colleagues at the Senate.

Senator Cayetano reacted to remarks made by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Miguel Zubiri during a bicameral panel meeting.

Zubiri was acknowledging his colleagues at the bicam, saying they fought “tooth and nail” to keep the P10-billion aid for the tourism industry under the Bayanihan 2.

Sotto then quipped: “When the majority leader says the [bicam members] were selfless in their proposals and advocacies and no agenda, whatsoever, you were merely talking about the Senate panel?”

Zubiri then underscored the “graciousness” of the lower chamber of Congress to the bicameral panel to compromise with senators to ensure a balanced Bayanihan 2.

The consolidated version of the Bayanihan 2 bill, which also seeks to replace the expired Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, was ratified by the Senate. The House is expected to ratify the measure on Monday, Aug. 24. After this, the bill will be sent to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature.

/MUF