MANILA, Philippines — The “veteran” bloc supporting the bid of Sen. Vicente Sotto III for the Senate presidency will serve as the upper chamber’s “conscience” so that rules and procedures would be followed in the Senate.
Sotto yesterday said his close ally Sen. Panfilo Lacson suggested that their bloc be changed from “veteran” to “conscience” bloc, owing to their experience as “seasoned legislators” who “make sure that rules and procedures in the Senate are strictly followed in line with the Constitution.”
“We can also make sure that fiscal policy passing through the Senate will be clean and transparent for the benefit of the country and our people,” he said.
According to former senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri, the “veteran” bloc includes himself, Sotto, Lacson and Sen. Loren Legarda.
Sotto said the start of the Senate’s first regular session on July 28 – which could be the day for electing a new Senate president – “could be unpredictable.”
“But by the rest of the year, it’s a different story,” Sotto said, hinting that the Senate leadership contest is volatile.
While allies of Senate President Francis Escudero said he still has the numbers to retain the leadership, Sotto said he is unfazed, although he would be willing to lead the Senate minority.
“The leadership only serves at the pleasure of the senators. It could change anytime,” Sotto said.
For her part, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she is not in talks with Sotto’s “veteran” bloc because she is still consulting with her two allies, Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, about forming their own “independent” minority bloc.
In an interview with The STAR’s “Truth on the Line” yesterday, Hontiveros said they have yet to decide how she could throw her hat in the ring for the post of minority leader, with Sotto expressing interest if he fails in the Senate presidency bid.
“I can only speak for myself. I am sure that I would remain a member of the minority, or even be part of an independent bloc as an independent senator,” she said.