Nancy Binay muse of Senate ‘macho bloc’

MANILA, Philippines - Just call her the muse.

For being the only flower among the thorns, Senator-elect Nancy Binay said yesterday she would be the muse of the so-called “macho bloc” that is seen to comprise the new minority in the Senate in the upcoming 16th Congress.

“They are all my elder brothers. (I will be) the muse of the macho bloc,” she said.

The “macho bloc” is composed of resigned Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, majority leader Vicente Sotto III, Gregorio Honasan and now acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada.

Binay is one of the two neophyte senators who will be part of the new Senate minority. The other is Senator-elect JV Ejercito.

When members of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) met last week, Binay said senior senators have advised her to “conquer her fear.”

She went to the Senate yesterday to pay a courtesy call on acting Senate president Estrada. She also had a tour of the Senate premises, including the session hall and the press office.

Facing the Senate media for the first time since her proclamation, she admitted that dealing with the media is one of her apprehensions.

She echoed the UNA senators’ battle cry that the new minority would be part of a constructive opposition at the Senate.

She said she is in the process of drafting bills she would file starting July 1, when the term of the new senators start for the 16th Congress.

The new Congress, however, will convene on July 22.

Binay, a mother of twins, said her advocacies would focus on the protection of children’s rights and the promotion of mothers’ welfare.

She also recognized the pressure coming from the public, not just because she is one of the daughters of Vice President Jejomar Binay, but also as a new senator.

“When I won, they said I should expect more attention now because, aside from the fact that I am a daughter of the Vice President, the mode now is (toward) 2016.”

One of the three pillars of UNA, Vice President Binay admitted he has plans to run for president in the 2016 elections.