Alvarez wants Aguirre to run for senator in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is considering Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for inclusion in the administration party’s senatorial slate in 2019 to help shepherd pending bills in the Senate.

Alvarez said during his keynote speech at the 81st anniversary of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila yesterday that he would support the candidacy of Aguirre for senator to speed up the passage of laws.

In an ambush interview with reporters, he said that he would recommend Aguirre’s inclusion in the senatorial ticket of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban).

At the same time, he also lamented the allegedly slow-paced passage into law of bills the House filed with the Senate.

“At the close of the regular session, para sa kaalaman ng lahat, ang pinadala naming bills sa Senado ay (for everybody’s information, the bills we sent to the Senate were) 110, naging batas po siguro mga (those that were passed into law were) 10,” Alvarez said.

He added that the House also filed around 70 bills with the Senate during the second regular session of Congress.

Aguirre told reporters that Alvarez’s proposal was food for thought.

“Ang sa akin lang diyan (for me), what will be will be, que sera sera, kaya kung ano ang hinihingi ng panahon o pagkakataon (so whatever is called for by the time and oportunity) but definitely much will depend on the opinion of the President,” Aguirre said.

He is also considering if he has a chance to land in the senatorial ticket, especially in surveys.

When asked if he was considering a run for the Senate, he said, “It can happen if the President asks me, but we must have a chance.”