SENATORS Bong Go and Robinhood Padilla have stated that they will remain in the Senate minority bloc, despite reports that some senators are considering moving to the majority bloc.
Before the Senate session adjourned, the two senators displayed the signature fist bump associated with former President Duterte, holding up papers that read: “We are the Duterte bloc. You guys come join us!”
“We are a solid Duterte bloc! Even if only the three of us remain,” Go stated in a Facebook post, referring to Padilla and Senator Ronald dela Rosa. “Let’s prioritize working and serving rather than politics,” he added.
Padilla’s chief of staff, Atty. Rudolf Philip Jurad, also confirmed that the senator would stay in the minority bloc led by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano. “Sen. Robin Padilla is not leaving the minority bloc,” Jurado said.
Recently, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III mentioned that there had been talks about Go, Padilla, and even Senator Imee Marcos joining the majority bloc. Sotto specifically expressed hope that Marcos would still join the majority.
“There is nothing official like that… Maybe there are jokes every now and then when we meet in the lounge. The same with Senator Bong Go and Senator Robin Padilla. We have jokes like that because they are in line with the thinking of the majority. It’s an independent Senate; we go where we think is right,” the Senate President said.
On Monday, Senator Erwin Tulfo officially took over the foreign relations committee after being elected as the new chairperson, replacing Marcos.
Last week, Sotto stated that the Senate majority bloc had thwarted a coup attempt allegedly initiated by some members of the minority bloc.
