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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Senators ask for unity in gov't, take swipes at Mayor Isko

Senators ask for unity in gov't, take swipes at Mayor Isko

Published Apr 4, 2020 12:42 pm
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola Senators on Saturday appealed for unity in the government amid the crisis situation caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country. Senate of the Philippines (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Senate of the Philippines (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Members of the Senate joined their leader, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, in stressing that the COVID-19 crisis is not a time for competition among public officials. Sotto earlier issued a statement apparently directed at Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, who, in an emotional address over Facebook, claimed that national leaders, including senators, were politicking during the coronavirus outbreak. The Senate leader said the senators have done their part in passing the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, and were actually offering help without "a complete PR team around us." "Let us fix the problem and not fix the blame. This is our time to work together as one nation. Wala dapat maiiwan (No one should be left behind)," Sen. Richard Gordon, who also chairs the Philippine Red Cross, said on his official Twitter account. Sen. Joel Villanueva also aired his support for Sotto in standing up for the Upper Chamber. "I stand with our Senate President," he also tweeted, adding the hashtags "Dapat Tulong-Tulong (We should help one another)" and "Dapat Sama-Sama (We should unite)". Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, said "The Senate is united in the fight against COVID-19." "Ito ang panahon na dapat tayong lahat ay magtulungan (This is a time when we should all work together)," Gatchalian also posted. Administration Sen. Francis Tolentino also took a swipe at Domagoso, whom he said "might have forgotten the quality of being a proper 'crisis manager'." "Dapat asikasuhing maigi ang kanyang mga nasasakupan, sa halip na ituro ang mga senador na ginawa naman lahat ang dapat para maipasa ng daglian ang Bayanihan Law," Tolentino said. (He should be focusing on taking care of his constituents, instead of pointing at senators who did everything to immediately pass the Bayanihan Law.) "Panahon ngayon ng masinop at tunay na pagkilos para sa kapakanan ng lahat, at hindi paninira na parang malarawang eksena ng pelikula," he added. (This is a time for wise and genuine actions for the welfare of everybody, and not for criticisms expressed like a movie scene.) Sen. Ronald dela Rosa also rallied behind his colleagues in the Senate by sharing the statements of Sotto and Sen. Panfilo Lacson on his Facebook accounts. Lacson had also blasted Moreno and said the Manila mayor's claims were wrong.
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