Sotto assures public of independent, transparent Senate

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Tuesday assured that the Senate will remain “independent and transparent” despite the looming dominance of the administration in the upper chamber.

Asked how they will ensure that decisions made by the Senate will not be “one-sided,” Sotto cited previous surveys that showed the public’s high-trust rating of the upper chamber, which manifests their independence.

“If you notice, you will see that we have a high trust rating. This is because the Senate is independent, transparent in handling money or in passing laws,” Sotto said in Filipino in an interview over radio station DZMM.

He said the high trust rating is a manifestation that the public should not be worried that there will be less opposition in the Senate since its members have been known to stand up for what is right.

“Kaya huwag sila magalala na walang opposition. As a matter of fact marami sa amin na talaga namang kung ano yung tama. Kasi hindi naman maganda yung mag-ooppose ka dahil ayaw mo,” Sotto said.

The Senate President also insisted that most senators are independent and sincere. In fact, he said of the candidates he endorsed in the midterm election, 11 won and they are not all administration candidates.

READ: Duterte allies dominate early Senate count

Sotto also mentioned several senators included in the so-called Magic 12 who are “independent-minded.”

“Si Nancy [Binay], hindi pro-administration yan, independent minded yan. Yung number 11, si Bong Revilla, independent minded din yan. Lalo na si Grace Poe. Pero kung baga sa ano, kasundo namin. Kasundo namin ang thinking, kami nila Senator [Panfilo] Lacson,” Sotto said.

(Nancy Binay is not pro-administration but she is independent minded. The number 11 in the partial and official tally, Bong Revilla, is also independent minded. More so Grace Poe. They get along with us.)

All senatorial candidates of the opposition coalition Otso Diretso did not make it to the Magic 12 based on the latest results released by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

The highest ranking Otso Diretso candidate in the list was reelectionistSenator Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, who is currently in 14th place with 13,764,593 votes as of 5:17 p.m.

All the remaining Otso Diretso candidates were not in the top 20 of the senatorial polls. (Editor: Eden Estopace)

READ: Otso Diretso’s Gutoc, Tañada, Hilbay concede
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1118608/otso-diretsos-gutoc-tanada-hilbay-concede