SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Monday that he will maintain a hands-off policy in local Negros politics.
He said he does not vote in Negros, so he prefers not to dip his fingers in the battle royale between Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez.
Escudero, with another independent senatorial candidate Grace Poe, was in the city on Monday to attend the youth forum at West Negros University. They also met with Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia and other city officials at the New Government Center and attended the birthday celebration of Representative Alejandro Mirasol (5th district) in Binalbagan.
He also ranked first in the November 10 to 23 survey of Pulse Asia. He also led in the Social Weather Stations survey conducted from August 31 to September 7 last year.
Asked about the recent issue hounding the Senate on the release of bonus to senators by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Escudero said he does not see any controversy on the issue because it has been a practice at the Senate.
He said it was released to senators through the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) from the Senate's savings due to the vacancy left when former senator Noynoy Aquino won as President in 2010.
He said that if it won't be given to the senators, the savings will revert to the national treasury.
Escudero said they have not spent the said budget until now. The Senate, he said, has reverted huge amounts of MOOE budget since 2010 to the national treasury.
He said all offices are doing this practice, and he does not see it as immoral on their part to have the budget for their MOOE.
On the postponement of the barangay election, Escudero said there are several bills about this matter at the Senate.
He said he is in favor of postponing the barangay election, but it should not be synchronized with the 2016 presidential elections.
He said the Philippines has one of the longest official ballots during the election and it will be more difficult for the voters if the list of candidates for the barangay polls will be added to the list of candidates from presidential down to the local candidates. (TDE)