Nancy Binay is ‘muse’ of Senate’s ‘macho bloc’

Nancy Binay. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—Senator-elect Nancy  Binay, who described  herself as the “muse” of  the so-called  “macho bloc” in the Senate,  paid a courtesy call  to Acting  Senate President  Jose “Jinggoy”  Estrada on Wednesday.

The “macho bloc” is composed of  Estrada,  resigned  Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, Senators  Gringo Honasan and  Vicente “Tito” Sotto  III.

The four members of the “macho bloc,”  Binay, and Senator-elect JV Ejercito are  expected  to be the new  opposition  group  in the Senate when  the 16^th  Congress opens  in July.

Asked then what she would  consider herself now that she would be joining the “macho bloc” in the minority  group, Binay said in jest,  “The muse.  Lahat sila kuya  ko (They are all my elder brothers). The muse of the macho bloc.”

As a neophyte  senator,  Binay admitted  that she has  fears  but said her colleagues in the new minority bloc  had  advised  her to “conquer  her fears.”

“Of course, I have fears. But like  the  advise of Senator Jinggoy and the macho bloc,  they gave  me advice to conquer the fear,”  she said at a press conference held  Estrada’s office in the Senate.

Estrada, who joined Binay  in the presscon, recalled  that when he  was first elected senator in 2004, it was  the  veteran senators  who “tested” him and interpellated  his  first speech.

This time though, he said he and the majority bloc would protect and  guide  their two neophyte colleagues, Binay and Ejercito, his half-brother.

Aside from   her colleagues in the minority group,  Binay was hopeful that her godfather,  Senator Frank Drilon, who is eyeing  the Senate presidency,  would  also  help  her in the Senate.

She said she and Drilon had not yet  talked personally to discuss about  possible committee chairmanships but Binay said she  would prefer to be part  of a committee that deals with either  women  and children or tourism.