Metro Manila, Philippines – The Senate minority bloc admitted it currently does not have enough votes to reclaim the chamber’s leadership from Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
“So it’s really, do you get 13 people of like minds? But as of today, wala pa ‘yung 13 na yan or ‘yung 13 hindi present dito,” Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said in a chance interview on Monday, Feb. 2.
Cayetano said the minority is naturally working toward securing a majority vote – or 13 out of 24 senators – to take control of the Senate leadership.
“We’re in the minority. So of course, we want to be in the majority. That was never a secret ‘di ba,” he added.
Asked if there are discussions about a possible leadership change, he said, “All kinds of pag-uusap, paano baguhin direksyon, kamusta yung leadership, makaka-13 ba? That’s never been a secret.”
[Translation: There are all kinds of discussions – how to change direction, how the leadership is doing, whether we can reach 13 votes. That has never been a secret.]
The minority bloc is composed of nine members who expressed support for Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero during the leadership shakeup in September, when he was replaced by Sotto.
Aside from Cayetano and Escudero, the minority includes Senators Bato dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, and Joel Villanueva. The bloc would need the votes of four more senators to elect a new Senate president.
Dela Rosa has been absent from the Senate since November amid talks that the International Criminal Court had issued a warrant for his arrest over alleged extrajudicial killings during his term as Philippine National Police chief.
Talks of a plot to unseat Sotto surfaced over the weekend following the majority’s decision to replace Senator Imee Marcos as chairperson of the committee on foreign relations. Senator Erwin Tulfo is set to take over the post.
Senate leaders said the move was based on the principle that major committees should be chaired by members of the majority. However, the change came after Marcos refused to sign a resolution condemning verbal attacks by the Chinese Embassy against Filipino officials.
In a separate media interview on Monday, Sotto acknowledged that some colleagues may be displeased by the decision.
“Possible iyan [That’s possible],” he said.
Sotto stressed that he serves at the pleasure of his fellow senators, adding that allies in the majority have assured him of their support.
“Kinukwento ng mga kasama namin na we’re solid, there’s no problem with the majority. Ganun yung naririnig ko,” he said.
[Translation: Our colleagues tell us that we’re solid and there’s no problem with the majority. That’s what I’ve been hearing.]
Tulfo said no one has approached him to seek support for a leadership change.
“Sa amin usually, pag change of leadership, may tatawag eh, “Boss, dito ka na. Kayo magkapatid.” Usually it’s like that. Pero this time, talagang wala naman. Tahimik. It’s quiet,” he said.
[Translation: Usually, when there’s a change in leadership, someone calls you and says, ‘Boss, come over here. You and your brother.’ That’s usually how it goes. But this time, there’s really nothing. It’s quiet.]
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson added: “Let’s put it this way – like rebellion, the threat against the Senate presidency is a ‘continuing crime’ since time immemorial.”
