Senate Pres. Tito Sotto Reacts To Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s “Noontime Show” Remarks
TITO SOTTO – The Senate President stressed that the “noontime show” following Senator Bato dela Rosa’s remarks has helped more Filipinos.
The Senate recently had a shakeup after some of its senators were dragged into the flood control mess. Currently, the Senate is under the leadership of Senate Pres. Vicente Sotto III who was the Senate Minority Leader when the flood control issue broke out.
However, then-sitting Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero was linked to the issue for receiving a P30-million campaign donation from a flood control contractor flagged by Pres. Bongbong Marcos. The contractor claimed that he used his own money as donation to Escudero.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva are also facing accusations of getting kickback from the flood control projects of the government. The claim was made by dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Engineer Brice Hernandez.
Both Estrada and Villanueva denied the claim of Hernandez. Both senators also claimed that they are willing to open their bank accounts.
Recently, the Senate had a plenary session that had to be put on pause and forced Senate Pres. Tito Sotto to leave the rostrum so they can talk. It took place after Sen. Bato dela Rosa told Sotto that the Senate is not a noontime TV show that are only taking up gimmicks.
The statement of Dela Rosa was his reaction to Sotto’s previous remarks that the concerns over the detention of former DPWH Engr. Brice Hernandez is allegedly just a gimmick of the Minority bloc. His statement did not sit well with the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief turned Senator.
However, Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s mention of a “noontime TV show” also did not sit well with Senate Pres. Tito Sotto. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Sotto who is one of the long-time hosts of the GMA-7 noontime variety show Eat Bulaga stressed that the noontime show has helped more Filipinos.
“Masakit din ang sinasabi niyo. Bakit binabanggit mo ‘its no noontime show,’ di pareho ng Senado ‘yan eh. Alam mo di ko na lang pinatulan dahil ano eh ‘wag gano’n. Ang totoo noon mas maraming natulungan ang noontime show eh,” the Senate President was overheard saying.
Senate Pres. Tito Sotto stressed that the noontime show is airing for 46 years already. Following the pause, when the Senate session resumed, Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri confirmed that the move for the transfer of Hernandez’s custody to the chamber remains. He stressed that they just need “better coordination”.
Amid the accusation of the dismissed DPWH Engineer, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada denied the allegation that he received kickback from the flood control projects.