Nancy, Bam prepare to ‘conquer fear’ in Senate

Ayee Macaraig

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Senators-elect Nancy Binay and Bam Aquino visit the Senate as they prepare to start their terms

THE MUSE. Senator-elect Nancy Binay jokes that she will be the muse of the macho bloc of resigned Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Photo by Rappler/Ayee Macaraig

MANILA, Philippines – “Conquer the fear.”

This is the advice Senator-elect Nancy Binay got from her colleagues as she prepares for the start of her 6-year term this Sunday, June 30.

Binay and fellow neophyte senator-elect Bam Aquino visited the Senate on Wednesday, June 26, as part of their preparations to become first-time legislators.

For Binay, the visit included a courtesy call on Acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada. Both members of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the two will be part of the 6-member minority in the 16th Congress.

Binay said among her apprehensions is debating with senior members of the Senate. 

“Of course, I have fears in joining the Senate but Sen Jinggoy and other members of the macho bloc gave me an advice when we met. They said, ‘Conquer the fear,’” Binay said in a Senate press briefing.

After the courtesy call, Estrada toured Binay in the Senate building, showing her the new wing that Senate staff will occupy. The Senate has yet to finalize offices for the senators, especially for the newcomers.

“After my crash course on legislation, I think this is the second part of my preparation, my visit to the Senate. The most important thing I learned from the crash course is the budget because after the SONA (State of the Nation Address), the President will already submit the national budget [to Congress],” Binay said.

Binay took an Executive Course on Legislation at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG) last week.

Aquino and his staff also visited the Senate on Wednesday for a briefing on administrative procedures.

“We were briefed on the different offices that comprised the Senate, from legislative affairs to administrative and finance, as well as rules, procedures and systems that we need to adhere to,” Aquino told Rappler in a text message.

“It was comprehensive, informative and appreciated from my end,” Aquino added.

Before winning in the polls, Binay was a personal assistant of her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay. Aquino was a social entrepreneur who headed the National Youth Commission.

'COMPREHENSIVE BRIEFING.' Senator-elect Bam Aquino visits the Senate for a briefing on the chamber's different offices and procedures. Photo by Senate PRIB/Cesar Tomambo

First bills, committees, Senate mentors

The incoming senators are also preparing to file their first bills.

Aquino said, “We are in the process of bringing together the policies and proposed legislation to support our campaign promises of ‘trabaho, negosyo, at edukasyon’ (jobs, business and education).”

The Liberal Party (LP) member and presidential cousin said he will file his bills before the 16th Congress opens on July 22.

Binay though said she will begin filing bills on July 1, focusing on her advocacy of pushing for children and women’s welfare.

Besides Estrada, Binay is counting on the support of the group of resigned Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, which also includes Sen Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and re-elected Sen Gregorio Honasan II. The group is dubbed the “macho bloc.”

Asked what her role in the all-male group will be, Binay joked, “The muse! I will be the muse of the macho bloc.”

Turning serious, she said, “From the beginning, since I filed my candidacy, the group has been taking care of me, especially Senate President Enrile.”

Estrada affirmed Binay’s statement. “The 4 of us veteran senators, we will give all types of advice to the two new ones. They will get all the support they need.”

The other new senator who is part of the group is Estrada’s brother, Senator-elect JV Ejercito.

Binay is also looking to her wedding godfather, likely Senate President Franklin Drilon of LP, to help her learn the ropes.

She said she has not yet talked to Drilon about possible committee chairmanships but she is interested in the Committees on Women and Tourism.

Aquino said, “I am hoping for committees where we can push for our anti-poverty legislation and reforms concerning the youth sector.”

'SABER-RATTLING.' Sen Francis Escudero says statements that Sen Franklin Drilon is not yet assured of the Senate presidency are just "saber-rattling." Photo by Rappler/Ayee Macaraig

‘Not an institution for learning’

Estrada said he is advising Binay and other newbies to study the Senate rules and the legislative mill.

“Those are the basics they should learn and expect interpellations on the floor, especially from the majority. We are always ready.”

Estrada relayed a lesson he learned from Enrile when he was starting out.

“I remember Sen Enrile delivering a privilege speech in 2004. He said, ‘All the senators here must come prepared because this is not an institution for learning. When you enter the session hall, you always have to come prepared and when you enter the committee hearings, you always have to come prepared.’”

In a separate interview, Sen Francis Escudero also said he is willing to help out his new peers.

“All of the candidates who won are capable and won the trust of the people but whatever help any senator can extend, I am sure everyone is open to help whoever is in need of assistance,” Escudero said.

Escudero also disagreed with the statement of outgoing Sen Manny Villar that Drilon is not yet “100% sure” of becoming Senate President.

Villar is president of the Nacionalista Party (NP) that allied with Drilon’s LP. Escudero ran under the administration ticket in May but does not belong to any party.

“I think that is just saber-rattling, noise so to speak that they make to get the positions they want. But my view is the story about the Senate presidency is already finished. I think Sen Drilon will be the next Senate President,” Escudero said. – Rappler.com

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