Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said he and other declared Duterte allies in the Senate are backing Senate President Francis Escudero in the 20th Congress, adding they will only field one of their own if Escudero withdraws from the race for leadership.
Sen. Vicente Sotto III, a former Senate president, has indicated he wants take the helm of the Senate again. Sen. Imee Marcos, a member of the Duterte bloc, has also floated the idea.
“In principle, we are going to support Sen. Chiz Escudero as the Senate president…kung halimbawa ayaw ni Chiz na maging Senate president, then our second option is somebody from within that ‘Duterte 7′ ang aming ipu-push.”
The members of the bloc are:
Ronald Dela Rosa
• Christopher “Bong” Go
• Rodante Marcoleta
• Imee Marcos
• Robin Padilla
Camille Villar
• Mark Villar
Dela Rosa said their group could field Sens. Marcos, Go, Marcoleta or Mark Villar for Senate president in case Escudero backs out.
“Anybody can become Senate president provided he is being supported by 13 senators,” he said.
“Between Sotto from the veterans’ bloc and Escudero from the present dispensation, we prefer na ipagpatuloy na ni Sen. Chiz yung kanyang liderato (we prefer that Sen. Chiz continue leading),” Dela Rosa also said.
VILLANUEVA BACKS ESCUDERO TOO
Escudero is seen to have the numbers to retain the Senate presidency but changes in leadership can happen quickly.
Sen. Joel Villanueva said Wednesday that he is also backing Escudero.
“We have been friends for quite a long time,” he said.
“But more than that is because of the fact na itong mga nakarang araw, if you look at the performance of the Senate, masyado hong malaki yung difference ng kanyang performance sa Senate president,” Villanueva, majority leader to Escudero’s predecessor Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, said.
BATO SKIPPING SONA
Dela Rosa also said Thursday that he is skipping President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on July 28, citing differences with the administration and with some members of the House.
“Alangan naman papunta ko doon na pa-smile-smile kahit na masama ang loob ko sa kanila.”
He said he has no expectations for the President’s address to Congress but said he hopes it would focus on improving Filipinos’ lives.
