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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Sotto denies having an alliance with 'friend' Duterte

Sotto denies having an alliance with 'friend' Duterte

Published Mar 20, 2022 08:41 pm

Vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Sunday rejected insinuations he has forged an alliance with the Duterte administration.

Sotto insisted that he has remained independent in his stand on issues, and has always been neutral, as far as he is concerned. Sotto is running in tandem with presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.

“I am Senate President, I am Senate President of the Republic. I cannot be against anyone as far as whether administration or opposition is concerned,” Sotto told reporters in an interview prior to the start of the Pilipinas Debates 2022 organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“We criticize the administration if necessary. We cooperate if it is for the good of the people. So, ano yun, ligaw na bintang yun (That’s an accusation from nowhere),” Sotto pointed out.

The Senate leader admitted that while he is indeed a “friend of the President” and is “guilty as charged” because they are indeed friends, there is no alliance between him and the Chief Executive.

“Pero alliance—ally what do you mean by that, alalay o sunud-sunuran (follower)? Never. Under my watch the Senate has always been independent. And I believe that I was able to show that I am a consensus builder in the four years that I am Senate President,” he said.

“I think it is the most productive Senate ever. Even during the pandemic, ano at kita naman (we showed it) during the pandemic, most of the ideas na pangangailangan para makapagbigay ng ayuda sa ating mga kababayan, galing sa akin. Galing sa amin at sinundan ako ng mga kasama ko sa Senado (most of the ideas on how to provide assistance to our people came from me. It came from me and my colleagues in the Senate approved and followed it),” he pointed out.

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Tito Sotto vice presidential race May 2022 elections sotto DUTERTE
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