Press Release
July 3, 2010

WE WILL SUPPORT A SENATE PRESIDENT WHO WILL UPHOLD THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE INSTITUTION - ANGARA

As the opening of the 15th Congress draws near, along with the election of a new Senate President, Senator Edgardo J. Angara today said he and his block will support a Senate President who can uphold the independence of the institution and who will pursue an agenda of reform and change.

"We are looking for someone who can uphold the independence of the Senate. We will elect whoever presents a genuine and strategic legislative reform agenda for the Senate. We want someone who has vision and foresight, and who will prioritize laws that will propel the country's growth, create jobs and ensure the delivery of basic social services," said Angara, longest serving Senator of the Republic.

He added, "We want the Senate to be indentified as a reformist institution because that is the call of the public and that's what we need to attract support to our Senate work."

History has shown that the Senate is the only institution that can stand up to the other institutions of government, especially as its members are elected nationally like the President and the Vice President. Hence, the Senate must be protected as an independent reformist institution because the Senate is elected at large. Their electorate is a national constituency and therefore, the people will tend to believe and put confidence to those elected than the rest of the public officials.

"No other institution whose members are elected nationally can perform a similar check and balance function that we do. Therefore, the principal qualification we are looking for in the Senate Presidency is someone who will uphold the dignity and independence of the institution, who will lead a reformist agenda and someone who will not just criticize for the sake of criticism," said Angara.

Angara confirmed that several Senate President aspirants have begun talking to his group, and they have yet to have a consensus on who will they support.

"We will pick someone who will act for the higher interest of our country and the institution of the Senate," said Angara, who was Senate President from 1993 to 1995.

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