Drilon to colleagues: Set aside differences, bring back trust in Senate

Newly-elected Senate President Franklin Drilon on Monday urged his fellow senators to set aside their political differences to bring back the public's trust in the Senate in light of the controversies that rocked the chamber in the past months.

In a speech after assuming the Senate's top post, Drilon said recent issues and supposed anomalies involving senators "have affected the perception of the people on the Senate."

"The institution has been affected. It thus becomes our individual and collective obligation to bring back the confidence of the people into this vital institution of democracy," he said.

He challenged his colleagues "to work harder" and "to show people that we deserve their mandate and trust."

Last week, the Philippine Daily Inquirer ran a series of reports detailing how fake groups supposedly used the "pork barrel" of some senators and House members to fund ghost projects worth P10 billion.

Earlier this year, the Senate leadership was also accused of irregular disbursement of maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) to some senators. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News