The third regular session of the 19th Congress will open next week with still only two members of the minority bloc in the upper chamber, according to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III.
“There is only one person who I’m meeting in the minority… So, most likely, that remains… It’s just the two of us still,” he said on Friday, referring to Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros.
Pimentel said no one among the so-called “Solid 7” alliance of senators who supported then Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri reached out to them to join the minority bloc.
Last May, when the Senate underwent a change of leadership, then Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said at least three or four members of the ‘Solid 7’ were open to shift to the minority.
Apart from Zubiri and Villanueva, the seven includes Senators Loren Legarda, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Juan Edgardo Angara.
They are now down to six as Angara had to resign from the Senate following his designation as the new Department of Education Secretary effective July 19.
Villanueva said joining the minority was one of their options. At the time, he said they talked to Pimentel, who informed them they are very much welcome in the opposition.
Zubiri said they will remain independent. His successor, Senate President Francis Escudero, said he respects their position.
Escudero said he looks at the Senate under his leadership as one body regardless if the senators choose to align with the majority or minority.
The third regular session of the 19th Congress will open on Monday, July 22, when President Marcos delivers his third State of the Nation Address.
