LOOK: Grace Poe, Nancy Binay refuse to do Duterte fist bump

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) — Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay did not follow suit with 10 of their fellow Senate race winners who posed for a photo doing President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature fist bump.

As the incoming set of senators, dominated by Duterte allies, gamely posed brandishing the Duterte fist, Poe placed her hand on her chest, while Binay raised her left hand and pointed upward, forming a “number one” sign — a signature of her party United Nationalist Alliance.

Poe and Binay, despite being part of the Senate majority bloc, did not get the endorsement of Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Nine of the winners, however, got the endorsements of either of the Dutertes.

When asked about her refusal to clench her fist, Binay told CNN Philippines' News Night, "I am not part of PDP-Laban nor am I part of Hugpong so why would I make the sign of the party that I don't belong to?" PDP-Laban is the ruling party chaired by the President while Hugpong Ng Pagbabago is a regional party forged by his daughter.

"They are part of the party of the President, it's just common for them to do the fist bump. I am hoping na yung magiging stand naman nila in the Senate will be at the end of the day, what will be good for the people and not what will be good for one person," Binay added.

The domination of Duterte allies in the Senate have raised concerns that the chamber would not be independent — a fear that has been allayed by some senators-elect.