Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano on Wednesday disclosed that they are open to forming an “independent” bloc in the Senate in the 19th Congress, depending on the possible result of their negotiation with other groups in the Upper Chamber.
Alan Peter said that up until now, he and his sister has yet to decide whether they will join the supermajority bloc of incoming Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri or the minority bloc supposedly to be led by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
"I can tell you honestly, at this moment wala pa kaming decision ngayon (we still have no decision as of now) pero ( but) we're keeping our options na maging independent din to be independent),” Alan Peter said in press conference in Pasay City.
Under the Senate rules, those who will vote for the winning Senate President will automatically become part of the majority, while those who voted for the losing candidate will become a member of the minority bloc.
But the Cayetanos said they are open to becoming independent, meaning they can be part of the “third independent bloc.”
“Magkakaroon ng pangatlong bloc (there would be a third bloc),” he said.
He said such set up is already common in the House of Representatives where there are also independent minority groups.
Pia, on the other hand, disclosed that she has been discussing these matters with Pimentel who will join the minority bloc with Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
The former House Speaker, for his part, said he has no plans to wrangle any major committee or be the leader of the minority group.
“Wala akong motivation na makipag-agawan ng magandang komite. Wala rin akong motivation makipagagawan kung sino ang minority leader (I don’t have the motivation to quarrel to get the nicest committee. I also don’t have any motivation to battle for whoever will be the minority leader,” he said.
“I just want to get down to work where we can be most effective,” he stressed.