Senator Aquilino ''Koko'' Pimentel III on Saturday, June 4 said the emerging Senate Minority Bloc will not be obstructionists.
During a DWIZ radio interview, Pimentel, a former Senate President, said the active minority would raise issues and observations ‘’from the point of view ng (of) constitutionality, magandang contribution ito (this is a good contribution), not an obstructionist minority, minority contributing to better laws".
Recalling the ‘’friendly’’ atmosphere between the group of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and the majority bloc of out-going Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Pimentel said the Drilon group had many bills that were enacted into laws.
‘’Maraming panukala galing sa minority sinuportahan ng majority (There were many bills of the minority that were supported by the majority). Sana ganun din maging relationship namin (I hope that relationship will take place). Ayaw din natin maging super majority na super out numbered ang minority (We don’t want a super majority that would outnumber the minority),’’ he added.
Pimentel is the son of the late Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., a political enemy of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, father of President-elect Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr.
Asked on the composition of the Senate Minority Bloc under the expected Senate presidency of Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri in the coming 19th Congress, Pimentel said the number of his group might be two to five.
Earlier, Senator Risa Hontiveros said she and Pimentel are the initial minority bloc members, which could increase later.
The election of the Senate President, Senate President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader will take place on July 25, the start of the 19th Congress.
Pimentel said he has yet to talk with the Cayetano siblings - Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia - to discuss ‘’commonality of interests". Details would be discussed if there is a common ground, he intimated.
Senator-elect Francis ‘’Chiz’’ Escudero may be considered still an ‘’independent’’ as he was reported focused on the remaining days of his Sorsogon province governorship.
‘’Sa pagkakaalam ko rin di pa rin inabandon ni Senator Chiz na kanyang nais na maging Senate President (From what I know, Senator Chiz has not abandoned his plans to seek the Senate presidency),’’ Pimentel said.
Pimentel, Escudero, and the Cayetanos are lawyers.
Asked about the Zubiri-led supermajority bloc's supposed offer to the Cayetano siblings of major committees, Pimentel said this is a good strategy for them to join the majority.
‘’Naghihintay ka lang, walang maooffer ang minority (We are waiting but there is no offer to the minority),’’ he added.
Pimentel emphasized that the minority bloc is there to serve as ‘’check and balance’’ to the supermajority that it should not disregard Senate rules.
‘’Kung may makita akong constitutional issue sa panukala iraise na rin natin (If I see a constitutional issue, I will raise it),’’ he added.