Sen. Risa Hontiveros Clarifies Senators Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino Still her Allies
RISA HONTIVEROS – The Deputy Minority Leader broke her silence after senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino joined the Senate Majority Bloc.
Prior to the Marcos SONA 2025 last Monday, July 28, the senators voted on who will be the Senate president in the 20th Congress. Even prior to the election for the Senate presidency, two (2) names already floated — Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero and then incoming Sen. Tito Sotto.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero won the Senate presidency over Sen. Tito Sotto with 19-5 voting. The Duterte bloc voted for Escudero. Two returning senators, Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, also joined the Senate Majority Bloc.
Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros voted for Sen. Tito Sotto. The “veterans bloc” composed of Sotto and senators Ping Lacson, Loren Legarda, and Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri backed the Senate presidential bid of the returning former Senate President. He was the chief of the Senate during the 18th Congress.
Here are the senators who voted for Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero and now Senate Minority Leader Tito Sotto:
Francis “Chiz” Escudero
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Joel Villanueva
- JV Ejercito
- Win Gatchalian
- Imee Marcos
- Bong Go
- Bato Dela Rosa
- Rodante Marcoleta
- Mark Villar
- Camille Villar
- Raffy Tulfo
- Erwin Tulfo
- Robin Padilla
- Lito Lapid
- Pia Cayetano
- Alan Cayetano
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Bam Aquino
Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
- Tito Sotto
- Migz Zubiri
- Loren Legarda
- Ping Lacson
- Risa Hontiveros
After senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino joined the Senate Majority Bloc, there are questions over the status of their allegiance with Sen. Risa Hontiveros who remained in the Senate Minority Bloc. It was expected that Pangilinan and Aquino will join Hontiveros as opposition senators.
Recently, Sen. Risa Hontiveros spoke on her ties with senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan. Based on a report on GMA News, the Deputy Minority Leader clarified that Pangilinan and Aquino remains her allies.
“We and our parties are still allies, at klarong-klaro ‘yun,” Hontiveros said.
According to Sen. Risa Hontiveros, she still share the same stand with senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan on certain issues. Based on the report, she even cited that the two senators supported the resolution of the minority bloc that calls for the opening of all bicameral conference committee deliberations on the national budget to the public.
Hontiveros also remains proud to remain in the minority bloc. According to her, she becomes happier with each day that passes.
“At peace ang puso ko sa pagiging bahagi pa rin at muli ng minority. At bawat araw na dumadaan, pasaya ako ng pasaya sa sitwasyong ito,” the Deputy Minority Leader said.
Recently, Sen. Risa Hontiveros also admitted her plan to block all motions for the dismissal of the impeachment case of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.