Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel has denied any factions in the country’s ruling party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), following his word war against party mate House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Pimentel said he remains “good friends” with Alvarez, even though the latter repeatedly called the Senate a “mabagal na kapulungan” (slow congress) for allegedly being slow in acting on important legislations.
“No. Walang factions. We will all enjoy the birthday party of Speaker in Davao/ Tagum. We are good friends. Nag-tutuksuhan lang kami (We’re just teasing one another),” the Senate president told reporters in a text message. Alvarez will celebrate his birthday on January 10.
Reacting to Alvarez’ remarks against the Senate, Pimentel earlier said the upper chamber has always believed in the mindset of “quality over quantity” when it comes to the deliberation and approval of proposed measures.
The Senate president also urged Alvarez to change his way of thinking, saying: “Let us not judge lawmaking in terms of number of laws passed but in terms of how the laws we pass improve the quality of life on earth in general and the quality of life of Filipinos in particular.” /je
READ: Pimentel urges Alvarez to change mindset: ‘Quality over quantity’