By Hannah Torregoza

Re-electionist Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV on Monday urged President Duterte to check the track record of the “Otso Diretso” senatorial candidates as he reiterated the opposition’s call for a debate with the administration candidates.

“Mr. President, puwede namang i-Google ang track record natin. Hindi naman mahirap iyan hanapin sa Internet (Mr. President, our track record could easily be found in Google. It’s not difficult to search it in the Internet),” Aquino said in response to the insults thrown by the President against the opposition senatorial candidates.

“Ang takot ko po, baka po naniniwala na si Mr. President sa mga trolls kasi iyan din ang binabanggit ng mga trolls sa Internet (My fear now is the President might believe the trolls who spread insults against the opposition in the Internet),” he added.

Aquino said the insults are proof the administration fears an opposition-dominated Senate as it would ensure an independent institution.

“Iyon siguro ang kinatatakutan ng administrasyon, na maging truly independent ang Senado (That is what the administration fears, that the Senate becomes truly independent),” Aquino said in an interview at the sidelines of his campaign.

He also reiterated the opposition’s call for a debate with pro-administration candidates.

The only way voters would be able to assess the quality of senatorial candidates they will vote in the upcoming May, 2019 elections is through a debate, Aquino said.

“Pangalawa, ang hinihingi po namin debate, ang binato sa amin insulto. Sana po, iyong hinihingi naming debate, issues po ang pag-usapan natin. Iyon naman ang challenge natin sa mga kandidato ni Presidente (Second, we we’re asking for a debate, in response they hurled insults. I hope, they would agree to a debate as we will be discussing issues here. That is our challenge to the President’s challenge),” said Aquino.

“Kung ibabato lang po insulto, palagay ko ang taumbayan, kaya nang makita na hindi pa rin sinasagot iyong mahihirap na tanong ng mga kandidato ng ating Pangulo (If they will just hurl insults, I think the people can discern that the President’s senatorial bets cannot answer the most difficult questions),” he said.