Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday said the Senate minority bloc remains a “solid 11” as she vowed to help rebuild public trust in the upper chamber following recent events she described as the institution’s “lowest point” in recent history.
In a press conference, Hontiveros said there was no certainty yet on another leadership change, noting that any shift in the Senate leadership would require the support of a majority of its members.
“Status quo pa rin. Alam nyo naman, di ba, para magkaroon ng leadership change tulad nung nangyari nung two weeks ago, kailangan ng majority number of members of the Senate. So solid pa rin kaming labing isa sa minority (It is still status quo. As you know, for a leadership change like what happened two weeks ago, a majority number of the members of the Senate is needed. So we remain a solid 11 in the minority),” she said.
Asked if another senator had joined their bloc, Hontiveros said none had been added so far, but the minority remains focused on its legislative and oversight duties.
She said the bloc is working to help restore the public’s regard for the Senate while continuing work on bills, investigations, resolutions, the upcoming budget process, and the impeachment trial after senators took their oath as senator-judges.
“Sa ngayon, wala pa pong naidadagdag kaya kami sa minority ay nakatutok talaga dun sa panunumbalik ng pagtingin ng ating mga kababayan sa atin sa Senado at pagpapatuloy ng mga trabaho namin sa pagsulong ng mga panukalang batas, sa gawa ng mga investigasyon sa mga resolusyon (As of now, no one has been added, so we in the minority are really focused on restoring our people’s regard for us in the Senate and continuing our work in advancing bills, conducting investigations, and acting on resolutions),” she added.
Hontiveros said the formation of a new majority, should it happen, must be anchored on common values and shared interests within the institution.
She said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian would be good for the Senate if he becomes Senate President, describing him as a serious legislator who values the dignity and reputation of the chamber.
“Kung maging Senate President si Sen. Sherwin, that would be good for the Senate. Magka-batch kami, so isang dekada ko na siyang nakakatrabaho at saka naobserbahan. Napakaseryosong legislator (If Senator Sherwin becomes Senate President, that would be good for the Senate. We belong to the same batch, so I have worked with him and observed him for a decade. He is a very serious legislator),” she added.
Hontiveros said the Senate’s recovery should not depend on whether the current leadership stays or is replaced.
She said accountability, transparency, and the continued performance of legislative duties would be crucial after the May 13 shooting incident inside the Senate.
“Never, kahit nung martial law dictatorship, kahit nung mga coup attempts, never na nag-bulletproof vest, nag-armas ng long arms, nagkasa at nagpaputok ng arms na iyon sa loob nitong Senado (Never, even during the martial law dictatorship, even during the coup attempts, did anyone wear a bulletproof vest, carry long arms, load and fire those weapons inside the Senate),” Hontiveros said.
She said the incident undermined the dignity of the chamber and reminded senators that the institution belongs to the people.
“Itong Senado ay hindi naman amin. Stewards lang kami dito. Hindi namin ito bahay, hindi namin ito taguan. Ito ay Senado ng mamamayan (This Senate is not ours. We are only stewards here. This is not our house, this is not our hiding place. This is the Senate of the people),” she added.
Hontiveros said ongoing investigations by the Philippine National Police and the Department of Justice should be allowed to proceed, adding that any Senate inquiry may run parallel and complement other fact-finding efforts.
She said investigators must determine not only who fired first but also why and how the shooting happened, and whether anyone should be held accountable.
“At kung may matukoy ‘yung imbestigasyon na may mga dapat managot, dapat talagang panagutin sila at walang pagtatakip sa anuman (And if the investigation or investigations identify those who should be held accountable, they must truly be held accountable and there should be no cover-up of anything),” she said.
Hontiveros said the Senate has no choice but to recover and refocus on urgent national concerns, including the Middle East conflict, the oil crisis, the burden on Filipino households, legislative work, and the impeachment trial.
“Nasa worst situation na nga kami sa ngayon eh. So there should be no way to go but up. Nowhere to go but up (We are already in the worst situation now. So there should be no way to go but up. Nowhere to go but up),” she said.
She said the minority is fully committed to helping restore public confidence in the Senate.
“Fully intending ang minority na mag-ambag para maibalik ang tiwala ng mamamayan sa ating Senado (The minority fully intends to contribute to restoring the people’s trust in our Senate),” Hontiveros said.
On May 11, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected Senate President after a majority of senators voted to declare all leadership positions in the chamber vacant and supported a leadership change, ending the tenure of Senator Vicente Sotto III.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who had been absent from Senate sessions for almost six months, appeared on that day. He was put under Senate’s protective custody following reports of an alleged International Criminal Court arrest warrant linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
On the evening of May 13, a gunfire incident shook the Senate, the same day the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte was trasmitted to the upper chamber.
On May 14, hours after the gunfire incident and amid tight security, Dela Rosa was able to leave the Senate premises. (PNA)