Bong Revilla defends entertainers in politics

Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. defended yesterday movie actors holding elective office from allegations that they did not accomplish anything.

In a statement, Revilla, an action star, said politicians raring for a comeback have been hurling unkind remarks at him and other showbiz personalities elected to office.

"It is election season… sour-graping and mudslinging is expected to happen everywhere," he said. "To be able to catch the audience’s attention, the trend now is to each his own gimmickry. One of that is to use personalities as one’s stage for a comeback."

Revilla said he is not at all slighted by the criticism.

"I am only serving the first half of my mandate in the Senate. I know what I have done and what I am doing in the period of just almost three years in legislation. I know there is still a lot more to learn and do and that is where our eyes are set."

The senator said he had helped in passing some bills, which have been benchmarked for their economic, social and cultural impact to the community and the people.

"The other day, we just sponsored eight local bills for road renaming at the floor," he said.

Revilla said among bills being heard on the floor and which he advocates are the anti-pornography act, reduction of amusement tax, anti-gender discrimination bill, and the anti-billboard act.

He also co-authored the juvenile justice bill and the Biofuels Act in the Senate, he added.

On the other hand, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said yesterday the ideal situation would be to have all sectors represented in the Senate, including the entertainers.

"A legislature must possess all the possible human experience to be brought into the chamber," he said. "This differing human experiences in life must be brought into the crafting of proposed laws because we are legislating everything of interest in the life of our society."

Biazon said he sees nothing wrong with entertainers inputting their experiences in the making of laws.

What he opposes is the concentration of one particular sector in the Senate, he added.

Three senators are actors: Revilla, Manuel "Lito" Lapid and Jinggoy Estrada.

Based on unofficial reports, the administration is said to be fielding at least three celebrities in the May 14 elections.

Optical Media Board chairman Edu Manzano, Richard Gomez and Cesar Montano are reportedly being included in the administration lineup to counter the strong ticket of the opposition.

Meanwhile, Sen. Luisa Ejercito said yesterday she is still "physically, emotionally and even morally fit" to run for another term, but that she has decided to retire on advice of ousted President Joseph Estrada. 

Speaking over radio station dzBB, Ejercito said Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Manila Bulletin publisher Emilio Yap have advised her to seek another term. — With Marvin Sy