Senator-elect Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV on Wednesday, June 25 expressed belief senator-judges should make decisions and rule based on the evidence to be presented before the Senate impeachment court.  Aquino said this is the common stand he has with fellow opposition lawmakers Senator-elect Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Sen. Risa Hontiveros.  

“I think we should rule based on the evidence. Yung mga senator ngayon, mga senator-judges kami, yung tungkulin namin, tingnan yung ebidensya at mag-decide based sa evidence (The senators right now, we’re going to be senator-judges, and that’s our duty, to look into the evidence and decide based on evidence),” Aquino told reporters in an interview at the Senate.  

“Hindi mag-decide bago makita yung ebidensya. I think yun yung pinakamahalaga. Yun yung tungkulin namin (Not to decide before seeing the evidence. I think that’s the most important. That’s our duty),” he added. 

“And that goes for me, it goes for everybody. Hintayin natin yung proseso, tingnan yung ebidensya at mag-decide ka based sa ebidensya, hindi base sa kung anong kulay mo sa pulitika (Let’s wait on the process, let’s look into the evidence and decide based on the evidence, not based on what is your political color),” the returning senator said.  

Asked if he and Senators Pangilinan and Hontiveros have already met and solidified their intention to be the minority bloc in the 20th Congress, Aquino admitted everything is still “fluid.” 

“Pero syempre, yung magkakasama, magkasama pa rin di ba? But right now, sa pag-uusap namin ni Senator Kiko, yung mahalaga talaga, matupad yung mga pangako namin during the campaign (But of course, those who have been together, would still be together right? But right now, based on our conversation with Sen. Kiko, what is important is we would be able to fulfill our promises during the campaign),” Aquino said.  

Aquino also admitted that they have also been in talks with other senators regarding the upcoming Senate leadership. But their decision as a group will be manifested when the 20th Congress opens in July 28 or before the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos.  

“Siyempre marami. Siyempre, as we speak, yung mga iba't ibang mga senador. nag-uusap-usap na rin (Of course, we’ve been talking to many. As we speak, of course, the other senators are also discussing it),” he said. “Pero pag-uusap pa lang yan ngayon. Malalaman nyo na yan sa July 28 (But those are still talks. You will know our decision on July 28),” Aquino said.