Former Senate President and Liberal Party stalwart Franklin Drilon defended Senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan’s decision to join the Senate majority, asserting that they remain committed to the same advocacies they championed during the 2025 campaign.
“They didn’t change their stance. Bam campaigned on an education platform, while Kiko focused on food security. By joining the majority bloc, they are positioning themselves to lead the committees that align with the issues they championed during their campaigns,” Drilon stated.
Aquino and Pangilinan are set to join the majority bloc in the 20th Congress, where they will head the education and agriculture committees.
“There’s no clear opposition or administration bloc in the Senate. Each senator aims to promote their own programs or policies,” Drilon added, noting that “the platform has become personal.”
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito earlier remarked that an emerging majority under Senator Francis Escudero in the 20th Congress would unite opposition lawmakers like Aquino and Pangilinan, as well as all four sets of sibling senators (Tulfo, Cayetano, Villar, and Estrada) in the chamber.
Allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, including Senators Ronald Dela Rosa, Robinhood Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, and Imee Marcos, have also joined the majority.
“We often cross party lines in the Senate as long as we focus on issues and measures that truly serve the people’s interests. Party affiliations are frequently set aside. We should be colorblind and simply support what is good for the public,” he explained.
