Drilon unfazed by posturing of colleagues, says it’s ‘natural episode’

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Senate President Franklin Drilon said he was unfazed by the posturing of some of his colleagues, who want to take his post, calling it a “natural episode” every time a new Congress opens.

Drilon will continue to keep his post until a contender gets a simple majority of a 24-member Senate needed to unseat him.

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Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Alan Peter Cayetano have already expressed their intentions to seek the post while Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III claimed he was being considered by at least 11 senators.

Asked on Monday if he was threatened by the posturing of some of his colleagues, Drilon said: “I don’t. The posturing is a natural episode once a new Congress comes.”

Besides, he said, “Anyone who wants to unseat me would have to get the gift from 13 senators.”

Drilon also shrugged off the reported defections of Liberal Party (LP) members in the House of Representatives to the new administration’s coalition for change of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

“Hindi ako nagugulat dahilan sa (I wasn’t surprised because) by our history, our political history will teach us that indeed the President’s choice in the House is given respect. Sa Senado (In Senate), the Senate has maintained its independence. The Senate is independent,” he said.

“In the House, that has happened in the past,” the Senate leader said, but added that he was informed that the LP congressmen would not leave the party but would just seek an alliance with the majority bloc in the lower chamber. RAM

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