MANILA—Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero III and Antonio Trillanes IV have opted to join the minority bloc of the Philippine Senate.
This after six Liberal Party (LP) senators including Senate President Franklin Drilon coalesced with another group led by incumbent deputy minority leader Vicente Sotto III agreed to give Senate presidency to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s ally Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
Escudero said he already informed Pimentel about his decision not to join the majority bloc in the incoming 17th Congress.
”As a matter of personal principle and belief, I would rather be in the minority in the Senate,” Escudero said in a text message to the Senate media.
On the other hand, Trillanes congratulated Pimentel, president of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
”I am confident that under his watch the Senate’s integrity and independence won’t be compromised,” Trillanes said.
”Having said that, I would be joining the minority in order to freely pursue my advocacies,” he added.
Both Escudero and Trillanes ran but lost in the vice presidential election in the last May 9 polls.
Escudero was the running mate of Senator Grace Poe while Trillanes also supported the candidacy of Poe.
Trillanes exposed the alleged ill-gotten wealth of Duterte at the height of the campaign period.
The expose hardly affected the candidacy of Duterte as the Davao City mayor garnered almost 16 million votes to become the country’s 16th President.
Meanwhile, Pimentel said he will convince the group of incumbent Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and other Nacionalista Party (NP) senators to join the new majority bloc.
”The group of Alan is not included yet but I will invite them later,” Pimentel said.
Cayetano, who is also eyeing Senate presidency, has already the support of Senators Cynthia Villar, Richard Gordon, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Joseph Victor Ejercito.
”If the group of Alan will join us, I expect five so 17 plus 5 is 22. I will have to stop at 22 because there should be minority,” Pimentel explained.