Poe abstains on bill renaming Roosevelt Ave after FPJ; but happy it passed

The Senate approved on third reading the measure renaming Quezon City's Roosevelt Avenue to Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue.

Voting 22-0-1, the legislators passed House Bill 7499, which seeks to honor the icon of Filipino action movies who died in 2004.

However, Senator Grace Poe, the actor's daughter, admitted that she abstained from the vote due to the "conflict of interest."

"It is so heartwarming to see your reaction to this vote. I purposely abstained that it might be a conflict of interest but in my heart, I am so happy that this passed," she said, during the Senate session on Monday.

Poe also thanked her colleagues for supporting the measure, even mentioning their links with her father.

At one point, she also cited the senatorial run of Senator Ralph Recto's wife, Batangas Representative Vilma-Santos Recto.

"Ang asawa ni Senator Kiko Pangilinan, na nakatrabaho ni FPJ at ang asawa ni Senator Ralph Recto, na magiging senador natin, na nakasama rin sa trabaho ni FPJ," said Poe.

(The wife of Kiko Pangilinan who also worked with FPJ and wife of Recto who likewise worked with FPJ.)

FPJ's production company is located along the nearby Del Monte Avenue.

In a message to reporters, the Batangas representative said "nothing is final" on her decision for next year's elections.

"May run for senate or retire from politics," she said, reacting to Poe's remarks during the session.

Also, under the bill, the Department of Public Works and Highways was tasked to craft the necessary rules and circulars to implement provisions within 60 days of the measure's effectiveness.

The House of Representatives passed the measure on September 9, 2020. — DVM, GMA News