Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday disclosed he is keen on taking the Senate minority leadership post and said he will discuss the matter with opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros before the opening of the 19th Congress.

Pimentel, however, said he will wait for the incoming senators who will join the majority bloc to organize themselves first before the minority bloc deliberates on their plans.

Pimentel had earlier said he is inclined to join the minority bloc. Hontiveros, on the other hand, has been a member of the Senate minority bloc and won a reelection bid in the last May 2022 senatorial polls.

“Pabayaan namin ang majority, magbuo muna kayo. Kasi ang hindi sasali sa kanila (We will let the majority form their group first. Because those who will not join them) will be the minority. Then we organize ourselves. Tingnan namin (We’ll see),” Pimentel said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay virtual forum.

“Ewan ko kay Risa pero mag-uusap kami ni Risa. Alam naman din ni Risa na una sa lahat abogado ako. Number two, siyempre (I don’t know with Risa but we will discuss this. I know Risa is aware that first of I am a lawyer. Number 2, of course) Senate rules are involved,” Pimentel said.

“Naging Senate president din naman ako (I also became Senate president). I dealt with the Senate rules, and then number three, mas matanda ako sa kanya. So, dagdag mo na yon (I’m also older than her. So you can consider that too),” Pimentel added.

As a part of the incoming Senate minority bloc, Pimentel said he would ensure that there would be checks and balances in the Upper Chamber. He vowed to monitor if the Senate rules are being followed by the majority, if the bills filed are in line with the 1987 Constitution and if the Senate’s time is spent on urgent matters and measures.

“I want to be sure that structurally, there would be a segment of the Senate which will check the greater majority. But when I say ‘checks’, it doesn’t mean we will always be on the opposite side,” Pimentel pointed out.

Sen. Sonny Angara, on the other hand, disclosed that Sen. Pia Cayetano and presumptive Senator Alan Peter Cayetano are open to joining the Senate minority bloc in the 19th Congress.

“I think they are also open to being in the minority bloc,” Angara said also during the forum.

Like Pimentel, Angara said he believes the incoming senator would not be dictated by anyone.

“He’s been speaker of the House, he’s been a majority leader. So I don’t think he will be dictated upon by anyone. He’s clearly one of the most independent senators I know,” Angara said.