Hontiveros eyes at least 3 minority bloc senators as talks continue

Senator Risa Hontiveros answers questions from Senate reports on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed hopes that there will be at least three minority senators in the incoming 19th Congress as talks between her, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and other potential bloc members continue.

Speaking with reporters in the Senate on Wednesday, Hontiveros said there are continued efforts to reach out to other senators who may want to join the minority group in the upper chamber.

“Tuloy po yung paguusap namin ni Sen. Koko…masaya po ako na tuloy-tuloy ang aming paguusap at tuloy-tuloy din po ang pag-reach out sa iba pang mga posibleng miyembro ng minorya habang siyempre abala ang mayorya sa pagbuo ng kanilang hanay sa papasok na Kongreso,” she said.

(My talks with Sen. Koko are ongoing…I am happy that our discussions continue and we continue to reach out to other possible members of the minority while, of course, the majority is busy forming their ranks for the next Congress.)

Hontiveros also said that while there had been discussions regarding the minority leadership, forming the bloc is the “first priority.”

“Umaasa po kami na at least tatlo, kung hindi man mas marami,” she said.

(We are hoping that the minority bloc will have at least three members, if not more than that.)

Meanwhile, Hontiveros reiterated the need to form a “true minority” in the Senate regardless of the number of its members.

“Hindi naman ang pinakaimportante ay yung absolute number ng minorya, ang pinakamahalaga ay tunay na minorya kami, gaano man kami kakaunti or mas marami. Tunay para totoo naming magagampanan yung tungkuling mag-check and balance, mag-fiscalize,” she said.

(The minority’s absolute number is not the most important thing, what is important is that we are a true minority, no matter how small or big we are. True in a sense that we will genuinely fulfill our role to ensure check and balance, to fiscalize.)

“Kayang kaya rin namin makipagtulungan sa mayorya naman sa mga common advocacies,” she added.

(We can also work with the majority when it comes to common advocacies.)

Hontiveros is the lone opposition senator to clinch a Senate term in the 2022 polls. Senator Leila de Lima, who is part of the minority bloc in the 18th Congress, lost her reelection bid.

Meanwhile, incumbent Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon is set to retire from politics. Senator Francis Pangilinan, who ran but lost in the vice presidential race, will also end his Senate term.

JPV