Hontiveros reaching out to other senators to form Senate minority bloc

Sen. Risa Hontiveros. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday said she is reaching out to other senators in a bid to form a “genuine” minority bloc in the Senate.

“[A]lso reaching out to other members, other members are possibly reaching out also to us,” Hontiveros said over CNN Philippines.

“Basta kung ano man ang maging exact number namin eventually, ang important para sa akin is we, again become a genuine minority,” she added.

(No matter how many we become, what’s important for me is we, again, become a genuine minority.)

Hontiveros said she had a “productive”  talk with Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and said they have also set another talk.

READ: Hontiveros bares talking to Pimentel about forming Senate minority bloc 

“I’ve spoken to Sen. Koko, and I’m glad that we’re both strongly inclined to form a minority together,” the senator said.

“I can’t speak for him here, but I’m glad na productive yung unang pag-uusap namin (our previous talks were productive), we’re setting a next one,” she added.

The lawmaker, who now appeared to be the lone opposition senator, said the talks will take some time before the formalization of the minority bloc.

RELATED STORY:

Senate must have a ‘real minority group,’ says Koko Pimentel 

Pimentel says open to joining Senate minority; political dynasties are legal 

JPV