Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on Vote for Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero
BATO DELA ROSA – The Senator revealed that the “Duterte bloc” will support Senate President Chiz Escudero to remain in his position in the 20th Congress.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero previously admitted that he is open to lead the upper chamber again in the 20th Congress. It will be determined through voting if he will remain in his position or another senator will take the lead.
The known contender of Escudero for the Senate presidency is incoming Sen. Tito Sotto who previously claimed that some senators want him to be the Senate President in the 20th Congress. According to Sotto who is a former Senate president, he is willing to lead the chamber if he has the numbers.
Sotto was the Senate president during the 18th Congress. Aside from him, presidential sister and reelected Sen. Imee Marcos also claimed that there are also some of her colleagues in the chamber who wants her to occupy the highest position in the Senate.
However, recently, Sen. Joel Villanueva claimed that Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero is poised to remain as the Senate president in the 20th Congress. According to him, at least 13 senators that he has talked to have allegedly expressed support to the current leadership of the Senate.
Recently, Sen. Bato dela Rosa revealed the vote of the so-called “Duterte bloc” for the Senate presidency in the 20th Congress. Based on a report on GMA News, the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief turned Senator said they will support Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero to remain in his position as the chamber’s leader.
The “Duterte bloc” is composed of the allies of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Based on the report, they are the “Duter7” and the bloc is composed of the following senators:
- Bato dela Rosa
- Bong Go
- Robin Padilla
- Imee Marcos
- Rodante Marcoleta
- Camille Villar
- Mark Villar
According to Sen. Dela Rosa, he is not sure if everyone of them in the Duterte bloc has signed their commitment to SP Escudero but he already did. According to him, they talked about the Senate presidency and they did not see any reason not to support the current leadership of the chamber.
“Ang pinaka-big factor d’yan na nakikita ko lang talaga is ‘yung pagka-open niya. Nakikinig siya sa lahat ng sides. ‘Yun ang nagustuhan namin na liderato,” he said.
Based on the report, Sen. Bato dela Rosa also clarified that his support for Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero does not come with a favor. He stressed that it does not come in exchange of a Senate committee chairmanship nor a vote on the impeachment of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Recently, incoming Sen. Tito Sotto confirmed that he is “too strict” — the factor cited by Sen. Migz Zubiri as probably the reason why some of the senators do not want him to be the Senate president again.