Duterte bloc undecided on bet for next Senate president

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who won a fresh six-year term, said the “Duterte bloc” in the Senate is yet to decide on who their bet would be for the next Senate president.

“Hindi pa kami nag-uusap. Hindi pa. Mag-uusap pa kami 'yung bloc namin. Hindi pa nga kami magkapag-comeup ng final decision dahil naroon pa sa abroad si Senator [Robin] Padilla. Kaya hintayin namin [na] makabalik [siya] at mag-uusap kami,” Dela Rosa said.

(We haven't talked about it yet. We still have to discuss it.  We can't have a final decision since Senator Padilla is still abroad. We will wait for his return and we will talk.)

Padilla went to the Netherlands when former President Rodrigo Duterte was brought to the International Criminal Court to face the alleged crimes against humanity charges filed against him.

“Wala pa kaming final na napag-usapan (We don’t have a final decision yet),” Dela Rosa added.

Dela Rosa said the other members of the Duterte bloc or allies of the former president are:

• Bong Go
• Robin Padilla
• Senator-elect and Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and
• Senator Imee Marcos.

Of the five, three of them won their re-election bid in the 2025 midterm polls: Go, Dela Rosa, and Marcos. Padilla won his first six-year Senate term in 2022 while Marcoleta's term will be until June 30, 2031.

Asked if they are still scouting for more members, Dela Rosa said "Hindi kami nagrerecruit (We are not trying to recruit)." 

Senator Francis Escudero is the current Senate President. Former Senate president Tito Sotto III, who also won in the 2025 midterm polls, meanwhile, disclosed that a number of his colleagues have expressed support for his return as the Senate leader.

Asked if he wants Escudero replaced, Dela Rosa said he is not saying that.

“Wala, wala, wala. So far, so good naman kami,” he said.

Dela Rosa, however, said the Senate presidency is not a two-way race and mentioned that Senators Alan Cayetano and Miguel Zubiri, who was ousted as Senate president in a coup d'etat in May last year, can also be contenders.

“I am sure meron pa iba d'yan na nag-aambisyon. Senator Alan Cayetano, pwede rin, hindi ba. Maraming posibilidad. Pwede rin si Migs Zubiri,” Dela Rosa said.

Asked if Cayetano is a lock for the Duterte bloc as someone who served as a Cabinet member and a running mate of former President Duterte, Dela Rosa did not give a categorical answer.

“Nakita ko lang na qualified siya. Pwede siya mag-lead ng Senado. May kakayahan siya. Pwede siya maging SP. Nakikita ko lang 'yung capability ng aming kasamahan sa Senado,” he said, adding that he is yet to talk to Cayetano.

(I just recognize that he is qualified to lead the Senate. I see the capabilities of my colleagues in the Senate.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News