MANILA, Philippines — Senators backed the move of President Duterte to sanction junketing executive branch officials even as they stressed they don’t have that kind of problem in the Senate. Duterte earlier threatened to impose a “starvation diet” on foreign trips for government officials working in the executive branch and has sacked at least two top officers for that reason. “Very good!” said Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III of the move, adding that this would not apply to the Senate, it being a separate branch of government. Like Duterte, Pimentel said he does not really enjoy travels but is forced to go on foreign trips because of his duties as head of the Senate. Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1“Hence, I want some of my colleagues to represent the Senate abroad,” the Senate chief pointed out.

Source: Philippine Star December 22, 2017 16:07 UTC