Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, March 4 expressed hope that the Senate minority bloc would be able to gather a sufficient number of support from colleagues to block the proposed economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution. 

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Hontiveros have expressed their opposition to Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, the Charter change bid pending in the Senate.

Hontiveros said that after a quick assessment through political mapping and one-on-one conversations with fellow senators, they believe they have a “fighting chance to form at least seven” senators to vote against RBH 6.

“At the start, they were confident…even announcing they have 18 votes. But, I think, there is vindication that that is not accurate. And I think until now, we still have a fighting chance to come up with at least seven senators to downvote RBH 6,” Hontiveros told reporters in an interview. 

Over the weekend, Pimentel said there is a possibility the minority bloc can muster 8 votes against RBH 6.

Among the senators who have categorically been vocal against Charter change, so far, are Hontiveros, Pimentel and Sen. Cynthia Villar. According to Pimentel, Sen. Mark Villar may also side with his mother’s position on the issue. 

Cynthia Villar had earlier said she finds the proposition to change the economic provisions in the present Charter unnecessary.

“In my view, it’s not important. We can do that through legislation. We have already passed the Public Services Act, so that leaves the two: education and media,” Villar reiterated in an ambush interview.