Drilon confident Senate will pass anti-political dynasty bill

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Franklin Drilon is confident that the proposed anti-political dynasty measure will get the support of his colleagues in the Senate even if some of them were either siblings or relatives of incumbent elected or appointed officials of government.

“Sa amin po ay sa tingin ko ay maipapasa yan,” Drilon said in a radio interview on Friday, when asked about President Benigno Aquino III’s support of the measure.

(I think we can pass it)

“Sa aking tingin, susuportahan naman ito ng aking mga kasama sa Senado dahil makakabuti ito sa estado ng ating pulitka,” he said.

(In my view, my colleagues in the Senate will support that because that will be good for the state and our politics)

But Drilon said the Senate has yet to wait first for the approval of the measure at the House of Representatives before they tackle it.

“Hihintayin po namin na maipasa iyan sa Kamara de Representantes, at kapag naipasa ay agad naming tatalakayin iyan,” Drilon said.

(We’ll wait for the House of Representatives to pass it, and when they pass it, we will immediately tackle it)

Some members of the Senate are either siblings or relatives of incumbent government officials, elected or appointed.

Among them were brother and sister –Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano: and detained Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Joseph Victor Ejercito, who are both sons of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Senator Nancy Binay, meanwhile, is the daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay while Senate Pro Tempore Ralph Recto’s wife is incumbent Batangas Governor Vilma Santos.
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