Villanueva open to being part of minority bloc

Senator-elect Joel Villanueva on Wednesday expressed willingness to join the Senate minority bloc in the 19th Congress.

“When it comes to committees, preferential committees etcetera, I don’t mind, in fact, I can even say that I am open to being part of the minority,” he said in an interview with reporters at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City during the proclamation of winning senators for the 2022 elections.

Villanueva garnered 18,486,034 votes from the 172 out of 173 certificates of canvass (COCs) canvassed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC).

He was included in the Senate slate of opposition standard bearer Vice President Leni Robredo for the 2022 elections.

Reelectionist Senator Risa Hontiveros, however, is the only member of the minority bloc who made it to the “Magic 12."

Meanwhile, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Tuesday also said he is inclined to join the Senate minority bloc, indicating that belonging to the minority does not technically mean that you are in opposition to the president, adding that the Senate is not dictated by any sitting president.

Pimentel earlier said he will discuss the Senate minority leader post with Hontiveros prior to the opening of the 19th Congress.—AOL, GMA News