MANILA, Philippines — Senator Aquilino “Koko”Pimentel III underscored on Wednesday the necessity for a “actual minority group” within the Senate in gentle of a looming supermajority within the subsequent Congress.
Pimentel allayed fears that the higher chamber would now change into a rubber stamp as just one identified opposition member—Senator Risa Hontiveros — gained within the final senatorial race.
“That’s why we are going to be sure that na hindi. And once I say we are going to be sure that, structurally we are going to be sure that na hindi rubber stamp,” he mentioned throughout a Kapihan sa Manila Bay discussion board.
“When you don’t put together structurally nagiging dependent ngayon tayo sa angle of every senator. After all I do know that they’re impartial thinkers however huwag tayo lang umasa doon.”
“So structurally, we should have an actual minority group within the Senate to test on the bulk. Kasi ano na yan e tyranny of numbers yan e, to ensure that there can be no tyranny of numbers,” added Pimentel, who as soon as served as Senate President.
He additionally shortly dismissed the alleged plan by the looming majority bloc to call returning Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the following minority chief.
“Huwag ganun. Let the minority select their minority chief. Huwag namang ganun na pati minority chief named by the bulk, huwag ganun,” the senator mentioned.
Pimentel, who is an element of the present Senate majority group, mentioned he’s now extra inclined to affix the following minority group to test on the “better majority.”
“Pag sinabi kong test, it doesn’t imply naman na we are going to all the time be on the other aspect…” he identified.
When requested whether or not he or Hontiveros will vie for the Senate management, Pimentel mentioned they’ve but to debate it.
He did make clear one factor although: “I’m not within the efforts to type the bulk.”
/MUF
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