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Admin senatorial bets urge pols to stick to issues, keep cool
Senatorial candidates from the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday called on politicians to stick to the issues and help keep the peace on the campaign trail.
Asked to comment on former President Rodrigo Duterte's recent remark on killing incumbent senators, former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said he believed the former Chief Executive was only joking.
He, however, advised politicians to refrain from making personal attacks.
"It's better we stick to the issues,” Sotto said at a press conference for the senatorial slate in Manila.
“Once you start attacking personally, personal attacks on anyone, you have lost the debate. It means you have lost the debate,” he added.
Former senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said it would be better if people helped de-escalate the tension during the campaign period
(When the powerful fight amongst themselves, my wish is that we help de-escalate because nothing good will come out of it for our countrymen, especially ordinary Filipinos.)
This was also the call of former senator Manny Pacquiao, who said heated exchanges would not benefit the general public.
“Iwasan na natin ‘yung bangayan na ‘yan kasi tuwing nag-aaway, lahat ng mga leader especially sa pinakamataas na posisyon, down to barangay, alam niyo ang naapektuhan ‘yung mga mahihirap na tao. Lalo sila nagugutom, lalo nawawalan ng opportunity,” the boxing icon said.
(Let's avoid these squabbles because whenever leaders fight, especially those in the highest positions down to the barangay, it is the poor who are affected. Their hunger deepens and they lose even more opportunity.)
Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said they would not be affected by the issue and would just continue presenting their platforms during the campaign.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III has filed a complaint against Duterte for saying during a rally that they should kill incumbent senators to create vacancies that their candidates could fill.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, the Duterte administration's first top cop and now running for reelection under Duterte's PDP Laban party, said the former Chief Executive was only joking. — BM, GMA Integrated News
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