Senator Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Senator Franklin Drilon was elected new Senate minority leader on Tuesday.
It was Senator Benigno Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV who nominated Drilon for the post. Aquino’s motion was seconded by Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
On Drilon’s motion, Aquino was elected assistant minority leader.
Before this, detained Senator Leila de Lima informed the body that she was withdrawing from the majority group to join the new minority bloc in the Senate.
De Lima has written Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III informing him of her decision. Sotto read the letter on the floor.
“This is to give notice that I am formally withdrawing from the majority in order to join the minority bloc in the Senate,” she said in the letter, a copy of which was later distributed to reporters. The lady senator is charged with and detained for alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
With De Lima joining the opposition group, Pimentel said the majority group will now be composed of 18 senators while the minority has six members.
De Lima will join Drilon, Aquino, Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Antonio Trillanes IV in the new Senate minority bloc. RAM/rga