Senate’s ‘seatmates bloc’ continues to expand

Senator Nancy Binay. PHOTO FROM THE OFFICE OF SENATOR NANCY BINAY

Five senators belonging to the Senate’s so-called “seatmates bloc” have been joined by four others, including “papa bear” and “mama bear,” in what appeared to be a formidable force forming in the upper chamber.

They are now called the “seatmates plus,” Senator Nancy Binay said in an interview over DWIZ on Saturday.

“Ako yung plus. Si Senator Loren (Legarda), si Senator (Richard) Gordon at saka si Senator (Cynthia) Villar,” Binay said.

The original seatmates are composed of Senators JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sherwin Gatchalian and Joel Villanueva.

Last Wednesday, Ejercito posted on social media his photo with other members of the seatmates bloc and Binay having dinner in an undisclosed location.

Asked why they were incomplete in the photo, Binay said: “Oo kasi si Senator Cynthia, di nakasama noon… Mama bear e,” followed by a hearty laugh.

(Yes, because Senator Cynthia wasn’t able to join… she’s the Mama bear.)

“Ako sister so yung mga anak muna ang mga nagkita-kita (I’m the sister, so it’s for the children to bond first).”

Asked again if Gordon is their “papa bear,” the lady senator said: “Oo tapos ang ate namin si Senator Loren (Yes, and then our elder sister is Senator Loren).”

Binay clarified that the “seatmates plus” has long been working together but they did not post their photos on social media.

And as a group, she said, they try as much as possible to come up with a united position on certain issues.

“Meantime, seatmates muna pero eventually baka maging ano na yun reelectionists bloc (Seatmates first but eventually this may become reelectionists bloc),” Binay said.

Ejercito had earlier disclosed that the reelectionists in the Senate may “band” together for the upcoming 2019 elections.

READ: Ejercito: Re-electionist senators may ‘band together‘ for 2019 polls

Aside from Ejercito, Binay, Angara and Villar, Senators Bam Aquino and Grace Poe are qualified to run for another term in the Senate. /jpv