Some senators express intent to join minority bloc, says Hontiveros
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday said some majority bloc senators have expressed intentions to join the minority, amid whispers of another possible Senate shake-up.
At a press conference, Hontiveros was asked if there have been any senators who intend to join the minority bloc and possibly change the leadership once again.
“There are some who have intentions but for now the solid one is the eleven in the minority. There is no solid level-off new number yet,” Hontiveros answered, speaking Filipino.
She added: “There are talks… But the hundred percent fact in the minority is that we are still 11.”
READ: Minority bloc pushes for Sherwin Gatchalian as ‘coup’ talk persists
Senate shakeup
This comes only two weeks after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and the new majority staged a coup.
In the first week of Cayetano’s leadership, Sen. Bato dela Rosa was granted protective custody against an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, and Senate security fired shots against National Bureau of Investigation agents in the Senate building.
Following the latter incident, Cayetano himself admitted that there may be plans to unseat him.
The minority bloc, otherwise known as the Solid Bloc-11 (SB-11), through Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, endorsed Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to be the new Senate President.
Under the minority bloc are Hontiveros, Gatchalian, Pangilinan, Sens. Erwin and Raffy Tulfo, Lito Lapid, Panfilo Lacson, Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, and former Senate Presidents Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Migz Zubiri.
READ: 2028 elections: Risa Hontiveros wants single opposition bet
Hontiveros said that should Gatchalian lead the chamber, it “would be good for the Senate.”
“If you ask me about Senator Sherwin, if he becomes the Senate President, he will be a good one,” Hontiveros expressed.
In the same breath, she noted: “A very serious legislator. Whenever we adjourn, he stays on the floor, he doesn’t immediately go into the lounge. When you hear them talking, the staff is very serious about their work, and he is someone who really values the reputation of the Senate.”
Gatchalian previously said he was ready to be a Senate President given his ten-year-long experience at the Senate where he headed five permanent committees, and one ad hoc committee.
READ: Cayetano on leadership change: Crises not getting attention
Hontiveros was also asked whether Sen. Chiz Escudero is being considered as a possible Senate President.
She explained that though the minority bloc’s doors are open to more senators, there must first be a commonality with the values and goals of its members.
Hontiveros then said that there have not yet been talks of Escudero’s alignment to the minority bloc.
Apart from Gatchalian and Escudero, Sotto and Zubiri’s names have also been floated as possible replacements to Cayetano. /jpv
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