Hontiveros rules out joining Duterte bloc

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday ruled out aligning with allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte in the Senate minority bloc.

At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Hontiveros responded to remarks from Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who earlier said he, along with Senators Robin Padilla, Christopher “Bong” Go, Imee Marcos, and incoming senators Camille Villar and Rodante Marcoleta, plan to form a “solid bloc.”

"Well, I have no plans to join a Duterte bloc. All of us colleagues here in the Senate can continue to work together on issues of common advocacy — whether it's the protection of women, or the other priority legislative agenda items I mentioned for the last two weeks of the 19th Congress session, including matters related to public services and utilities like water and electricity, as well as the crackdown on POGOs,” she said.

“But when it comes to political and electoral matters, what's most important is to maintain, expand, and further strengthen the opposition bloc,” she added.

‘Minority leader’

Hontiveros was also asked if she is interested in becoming the next Senate minority leader, a position that grants ex-officio membership in all permanent committees.

"Of course, that’s always the goal of any minority in an outgoing Congress — especially if they’ve managed to elect additional allied senators — to still be able to form a minority in the next Congress,” she said.

“But as with everything in organizing the Senate, it’s a matter of numbers. So, if the majority bloc identifies the Senate President, it’s possible that the next largest bloc in terms of members will claim the minority. Even if that happens, I still have a Plan B, which is to form an independent bloc,” she added.

Hontiveros, whose term runs until 2028, will be joined by senator-elect Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Bam Aquino — both known opposition figures — in the 20th Congress.

Pangilinan and Aquino ran as independent candidates, though they are affiliated with the Liberal Party and Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino, respectively.

Current Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is set to step down when his term ends in July, following his failed congressional bid in Marikina City.

Hontiveros also ruled out joining the majority bloc in the incoming Congress, citing she is "not allied" with the current administration.

"The past nine years have been enough. I was able to work on quite a number of things with members of the majority, depending on the advocacy. Many 'happy bills' were passed. There were also many investigations, and numerous budget interventions,” she said.

“But for me, in order to remain consistent with the past nine years — and even more so in the years to come, in 2028, 2034, and 2040 — it’s important to stay consistent and not join the majority, especially since I’m not an ally of the administration,” she added.

She continued: “It’s also important to provide an alternative pole or center of gravity for the opposition and other independent forces, even those outside the Senate."