Senate OKs bill renaming Roosevelt Avenue in QC after FPJ

Fernando Poe Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill renaming Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City after late movie star Fernando Poe Jr.

Voting 22-0-1, senators approved House Bill No. 7499.

It was Senator Grace Poe, the daughter of the movie icon, who abstained from voting.

“I purposely abstained because of our rule that it might be a conflict of interest but in my heart, I am so happy that this passed,” she said.

Poe then thanked her colleagues over their support for the measure and recalled how some of the senators as well as their spouses have worked with her father.

The bill had initially sought to rename Del Monte Avenue to Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue.

But Senate President Vicente Sotto III proposed an amendment prior to the measure’s second reading approval to have Roosevelt Avenue renamed instead.

“It has come to our attention that there is really very strong clamor from the people there and also the religious sector that there is a very historical reason for having Del Monte Avenue called Del Monte Avenue,” Sotto earlier explained.

JPV