Alyansa bets on allies lagging behind in surveys: We need them in Senate
Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas candidates (Photo from the Philippine News Agency)
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte — Makati Mayor Abby Binay is among the candidates seeking support for Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial bets who are lagging behind in the recent surveys.
She noted that their voices and opinions will be needed in the Senate.
The mayor made the call during a press briefing of the Alyansa in Pangasinan on Friday.
She said people should not forget the nature of Senate as a collegial body — which means, policies like bills and resolutions are decided through a majority vote.
“Kahit mapanalo ko sarili ko pero ‘yung mga kasamahan ko na mananalo din ay hindi parehas ang adbokasiya, eh ‘di hindi rin mapu-push ang adbokasiya ko,” she said.
(Even if I win but my companions who will also win do not have a similar advocacy, I still won’t be able to push for my advocacies.)
“[You] need the support of your colleagues when you are in the Senate. So hindi po pupwede na ang kampanya ay ako lang,” she told reporters.
[You] need the support of your colleagues when you are in the Senate. So I cannot just campaign for myself.)
“Kailangan ho, ikakampanya lahat dahil ano’ng mangyayari sa ’yo kung ikaw lang ang mananalo sa Senado at hindi mo kakampi ‘yung mga kasama mo? Wala hong mangyayari,” Binay said.
(We need to campaign for everyone because what will happen to you if you are the only one who will win in the Senate and your companions there are not your allies? Nothing will happen.)
Another Alyansa stalwart, former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, said that the two candidates lagging behind will do well in terms of lawmaking, if given the chance.
Sotto is referring to incumbent Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino and former Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos.
What they need to do, Sotto said, is to just continue campaigning and informing the people of their stand on major issues.
“Campaign and more campaign, information dissemination – ‘yun pa rin eh at ipaalam sa ating mga kababayan,” the former Senate leader said.
(Campaign and more campaigns, information dissemination – that’s still what they are… and make our fellow citizens aware.)
“Yung mga ‘ika nga ay what we stand for, and what we plan to do, at hindi kami marunong sumayaw. Pagdating sa gawaan ng batas, do’n kami magaling… para sa ating mga kababayan,” he emphasized.
“Those that are, as they say, we stand for, and what we plan to do, and we don’t now how to dance. When it comes to lawmaking, that’s where we are doing very well… for our fellow citizens.)
ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, meanwhile, said Abalos and Tolentino will bring to the Senate their experience in good governance and in fighting foreign intrusion.
“Siguro, kailangang mag-focus kami doon sa mga kasamahan namin na lagging behind. Kasi if you really look at it, may mga experience ‘yung [mga] tao,” he said.
(Maybe we need to focus on our colleagues who are lagging behind. Because if you really look at it, they are persons with experience.)
“I will not mention anymore pero alam nyo naman kung sino ho ‘yon. ‘Yung isa ho is fighting against China ‘di po ba?” Tulfo asked.
(I will not mention anymore but you know who they are. One of them is fighting against China, isn’t it?)
“Pag nawala naman, sayang. Who will be the voice of the Senate against China?”
(If he loses, that is unfortunate.)
“Yung isa naman ho, experienced sa good governance. Experienced sa [fighting] crime nu’ng siya ho’y secretary,” he said.
(The other one, he is experienced in good governance. Experienced in [fighting] crime when he was secretary.)
‘So we need… Lahat ho, kailangan namin eh. We cannot leave a man behind or a woman behind. We have to bring everybody. Sayang ho eh,” he added.
(So we need… Everyone, we need. We cannot leave a man behind or a woman behind. We have to bring everybody. It will be unfortunate.)
According to the Pulse Asia survey conducted from March 23 to 29, Tulfo ranks second, while Sotto is fourth.
While the Magic 12 is dominated by Alyansa bets, Tulfo is a step below Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) candidate Senator Bong Go who is first, while Sotto is behind PDP’s Senator Ronald dela Rosa who is third.
Meanwhile, Abalos and Tolentino are sharing the 19th to 22nd positions, which are way below the Magic 12.
READ: Reelectionist Bong Go leads Pulse Asia survey on senatorial bets
In the survey from Social Weather Stations (SWS), Abalos and Tolentino are also outside the Magic 12, ranking 18th and 21st.
READ: SWS: Go, 9 Alyansa Senate bets top poll
