President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. touted the legislative competence of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alyansa) senatorial slate, saying his anointed candidates are ready to craft new laws as soon as they are elected into office.
Speaking at a campaign rally at the Batangas Sports Coliseum in Batangas City, the chief executive said members of the administration’s slate need not undergo “on-the-job training” apparently intended as a dig at the opposition’s candidates, several of whom have no experience in lawmaking whatsoever.
“Most of them have [already served as] senators, so there is no longer any [need for] OJT. They are ready to work,” Mr. Marcos said on Saturday.
“No one here could be called inexperienced in making laws. They already know their jobs,” he added
The Alyansa slate is composed of Benhur Abalos, Abigail Binay, Pia Cayetano, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Manny Pacquiao, Bong Revilla, Tito Sotto, Francis Tolentino, Erwin Tulfo and Camille Villar.
However, it was noticeable that the President omitted Villar in his endorsement speech at the Batangas campaign sortie.
It can be recalled that Mr. Marcos mentioned the Las Piñas lawmaker in his previous speeches despite her absence.
The omission of Villar’s name came days after he ordered an investigation into Villar-led water utility firm PrimeWater due to complaints from consumers.
Recently, Vice President Sara Duterte endorsed the senatorial bids of Villar and Sen. Imee Marcos, who has left Alyansa, because after a very public falling out with the administration led by her younger brother.
Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos said the rest of his anointed senatorial candidates would ensure the continuation of policies initiated by his administration.
Alyansa promises to offer solutions even to “small problems that every Filipino citizen is facing” on a daily basis, the President said.
Mr. Marcos assured the administration’s senatorial slate would push for policies that would give equal opportunities to Filipinos, citing that his party members and senatorial candidates would push for gender equality and women empowerment.
“If we are to ensure our future, if we want to continue everything we have started in the past two and a half years, these are who we should elect to the Senate,” he added.
