Filtered By: Topstories
News

Osmeña’s fear of bribery in Senate over BBL baseless —Drilon


Senate President Franklin Drilon dismissed as mere speculation and baseless the statement of Senator Sergio Osmeña III that pork barrel funds could be dangled before senators when President Benigno Aquino III meets with them to discuss the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“Iyong mga kuru-kuro na baka daw magkalagayan ay talagang mga ispekulasyon lang po na wala pong basehan sa ating usapin,” Drilon said in a radio interview Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Osmeña said that he has no plans of attending the meeting – if there will be one – that could possibly put him in bad light, like what happened after a meeting during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The senator from Cebu said some senators were accused of receiving additional funds in exchange for their vote against the ousted chief justice.

“I don’t want to be accused, suppose I vote in favor and sasabihin na naman ng tao ayan tignan mo just like in the Corona trial, sabi ko, ayoko na. You’ll always be under suspicion. I would rather be not under suspicion because politics is [a matter of people's] perception,” Osmeña said.

Earlier, Aquino said he is willing to meet with the senators to discuss the BBL, but Drilon said such meeting is premature as the committee, headed by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has yet to finish its hearings and draft report.

“Mas mainam na hintayin muna natin na maisumite ng local government committee ang report at doon natin malalaman kung gaano kalayo ang pananaw ng mga senador ukol sa BBL. Ngayon kung hindi naman malayo, pwede na nating himukin at kumbinsihin na makapaghanap ng middle ground sa mga usapin,” said Drilon.

He also said there is nothing wrong with the senators meeting with the President.

“Bagama’t kami po ay nagpapasalamat kay Pangulong Noynoy sa kanyang alok na handa siyang makipagpulong sa mga senador, sa aking tingin ay darating din tayo doon. Sana po ay kaya namin na ma-solve ito, pero wala pong masama kung tayo ay makikipagpulong sa pinakamataas na lider ng ating bansa para sa kapakanan ng taongbayan at ng ating bansa,” he said. — LBG, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT