VP Sara Duterte rallied behind her allies
Vice President Sara Duterte urged the Senate to include Senators Bato dela Rosa and Jinggoy Estrada in crucial discussions.
It can be recalled that after Dela Rosa’s surprise appearance on May 11 at the Senate, a few days after, on May 14, he went on hiatus again. Reports stated that he was seen riding a white Fortuner owned by Senator Robin Padilla.
This happened because of the warrant of arrest issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for being an alleged co-perpetrator of former President Rodrigo Duterte in the supposed extra-judicial killings during the previous administration’s war on drugs program.
While Dela Rosa is in hiding, Sen Jinggoy Estrada is now being detained at the Quezon City Jail after he surrendered, following the release of the warrant of arrest from the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the anomalous flood control project in Bulacan.
On Wednesday, June 10, Vice President Sara Duterte said during a media conference that she has no message for Dela Rosa and Estrada, who are known to be her allies.
“Well, wala akong indibidwal na mensahe para sa ating mga miyembro ng Senado,” the Vice President said.
Then, she stressed that the Senate is just one institution and it is not grouped by two, based on the report from Balita.
In recent weeks, the conflict between the Majority and Minority Bloc had been intensified. This came after former Senate President Tito Sotto was ousted, with the surprise appearance of Dela Rosa, and he was replaced by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
A few days later, with the absence of the Majority Bloc at the Senate, the remaining Senators chose Sen. Win Gatchalian as the “acting” Senate President, with the decision of Sen. Chiz Escudero to join their side.
VP Sara Duterte stressed that there is no need to exclude Dela Rosa and Estrada from the vital discussions in the Senate.
“Dapat pag-usapan noong 24, kasama ‘yong mga nakulong, kasama ‘yong nagtatago, kung ano ba dapat ang prayoridad ng kanilang institusyon. At ano ‘yong kanilang trabaho na naaayon sa ating Saligang Batas,” the Vice President said.