Tito Sotto: Duterte Bloc not part of leadership change talks, welcome to join majority

Members of the Duterte Bloc were not part of the discussions leading to the leadership change in the Senate, newly elected Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said.

In an interview with reporters, Sotto said the senators who are allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte were welcome to join the Senate majority, "anything for the good of the Senate and for the good of the country.” 

Sotto said that the bloc was not included in the talks of leadership change because the initiative might not push through if many senators were involved. 

“Usually, gano'n talaga. Hindi talaga pinag-uusapan ‘yan kasi pagka-ganon, hindi natutuloy. ‘Pag masyadong maraming kausap, hindi natutuloy,” Sotto said. 

(That’s usually the way it is. We don’t usually talk about that because it might not push through. If many people are involved, it might not push through.) 

Senator Imee Marcos said that the so-called Duterte bloc, composed of herself and Senators Ronald “Bato" dela Rosa, Bong Go, Rodante Marcoleta, and Robin Padilla, had no idea about the leadership change. 

“Ang balita ko nakaka-15 na raw na pirma, pero kami, hindi kinakausap. Wala akong kaalam-alam. Nababalitaan ko lang kanina na nagpirmahan daw. Pero wala namang binigay sa akin, wala namang kumausap, wala namang nag-kumbinse,” Marcos said in an ambush interview. 

(I heard that there were already 15 senators who signed, but they didn’t talk to us. I have no idea. I just heard a while ago that they signed. But nothing was given to me, no one talked to me, no one convinced me.) 

“Parang nalito nga kami nila Bato, nalito kami nila Bong Go, ano ba ang nangyayari? Pati si Senator Robin, napatakbo ata kay SP Chiz. Nagkakalituhan bakit ang Duterte bloc, na-out kami,” she added. 

(Sens. Bato, Bong Go, and I were confused about what was happening. Even Senator Robin Padilla ran to SP Chiz. We were confused why the Duterte bloc was not included.) 

Sotto also committed to holding a weekly caucus every Monday before the session starts, just like what he did when he was the Senate President from 2018 to 2022.

Sotto said he had no idea yet who would be his successor as the Senate minority leader. 

He said the senators would hold a caucus this afternoon, right after the session adjourned, to discuss the possible changes of committee chairmanship, including that of the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee. 

“Hindi daw eh, ayaw daw niya eh. Hindi naman [sasama sa majority]. I don’t know with him, but he said he’s not going to be the minority leader,” Sotto said when asked if Escudero will be the next minority leader. 

(Escudero doesn’t want to be the minority leader. I don’t know if he will join the majority.) 

Asked for his thoughts on whether Senator Rodante Marcoleta will lead the minority bloc, Sotto said, “Wala pa kami do’n. Sila na bahala do’n. Those who will not join the majority, sila bahala sa minority leader nila.”

(We haven’t discussed that. It’s up to them to decide. Those who will not join the majority will get to decide who will be their minority leader.) –NB, GMA Integrated News