On proclamation day, Poe vows independent, balanced Senate

Reelected Senator Grace Poe. INQUIRER FILE

MANILA, Philippines — Reelected-Senator Grace Poe vowed to work for an independent and balanced Senate even as the majority of incoming senators are either allies or supporters of the Duterte administration.

“Sisikapin ko na sana magkaroon ng mas balanseng pananaw ang Senado. Bilang isang independent candidate, ‘yun ang aking tatahakin,” Poe told reporters Wednesday during the proclamation of the Senate race winners at the PICC Forum.

Poe, who ranked 2nd in the May midterm elections with over 22 million votes, vowed to speak up on measures that would not be in the interest of the public.

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“Kung makakatulong sa administrasyon tutulungan natin. Pero sa tingin ko panahon na rin na kapag meron tayong mga nakikita na maari nating baguhin ay magsasalita tayo,” she said.

President Duterte’s allies won a majority of the 12 Senate seats at stake in the recent midterm elections.

Nine of the 12 newly elected senators are either allied or supportive of the Duterte administration. (Editor: Cenon B. Bibe Jr.)