Villanueva: 3 or 4 ‘Solid 7’ members ready to join minority bloc

FILE PHOTO: Senator Joel Villanueva (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Joel Villanueva said at least three members of “Solid 7” are now “more than willing” to join the Senate minority bloc.

The Solid 7 includes former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, and Sherwin Gatchalian.

The faction emerged after Zubiri was replaced as Senate chief on May 20 by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

“Kung ano man ang magiging desisyon namin talagang it’s all for the betterment of our service as senators of the Republic of the Philippines. ‘Yun naman ang commitment ng pito sa aming grupo,” Villanueva said in an ambush interview Tuesday.

(Whatever our decision will be, it’s for the betterment of our service as senators of the Republic of the Philippines. All seven of us in our group have committed to that.)

READ: Cracks in Senate ‘supermajority’ showing after Zubiri ouster

“Tatlo [o] apat I can say. Si Sen. JV already mentioned, Sen. Binay already made a statement also, nandyan si dating Senate President Migz, nandyan si Sen. Sonny Angara — so ‘yan po lahat open to that idea to be part of the minority,” he added.

(Three or four, I can say. Sen. JV already mentioned it, Sen. Binay already made a statement also, and there’s former Senate President Migz and Sen. Sonny Angara — so all of them are open to that idea of being part of the minority.)

Villanueva earlier disclosed he is considering joining the two-member Senate minority bloc comprising Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Senator Risa Hotiveros.

He also disclosed on Tuesday that the Solid 7 has already talked to  Pimentel, who expressed they are “very much welcome” to join the minority coalition.

Villanueva further revealed that the Solid 7 is likewise open to speaking with Escudero to find out how they could help his new leadership of the Senate.

“Again, at the end of the day, ang bottomline naming lahat dito ay saan kami mas magiging epektibo in helping the institution, our country, and our people,” he said.

(Again, at the end of the day, our bottom line here is where could we be more effective in helping the institution, our country, and our people.)

For him, more minority bloc members means more fiscalizers to ensure that every legislation being discussed and passed in the Senate is in the best interest of Filipinos.

Villanueva nevertheless said members of the Solid 7 have enough time to decide on their move.