• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV has clarified on Tuesday that he remains with the independent bloc of the upper chamber, contrary to claims that he betrayed the opposition to join the majority bloc.
Aquino, who met with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to thank the latter for his support during the May 12 elections, strongly denied claims that he abandoned Senator Risa Hontiveros, the lone opposition in the Senate.
“No, we’re still together in the independent bloc,” he stressed, apparently referring to himself, Hontiveros, and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada earlier disclosed that Aquino and Pangilinan are likely to join the Senate majority in the 20th Congress, with expectations that they will chair the committees on education and on agriculture.
In an interview at the Provincial Capitol Governor’s Office, Aquino said the Senate is now finalizing the chairmanships of the different committees.
Hinting at his interest to chair the Senate education committee, Aquino said “the education crisis in our country needs to be addressed. So mahalaga yong committee na makukuha natin. Pinag usapan naming yon (It is important that we will get that committee. We are discussing and finalizing it).”
But definitely, pagdating sa (when it comes to our) stand on many, many issues. We’re also very together on that, he pointed out, referring to himself, Hontiveros and Pangilinan.
Hontiveros had repeatedly said she was hopeful the three of them at least could be in an independent bloc.
Pangilinan, who along with his wife, Sharon Cuneta, attended the recent inauguration rites of Governor Lacson, has expressed his interest to chair the Senate Agriculture committee.
“My priority is to get the committee on agriculture, because that is what we promised to our voters,” he said.
When asked if he will support Senate President Francis Escudero’s bid to retain his leadership in the chamber, Pangilinan said “I don’t know yet. We will see. Of course, he has a lot of support, being the incumbent.”
Whoever is the Senate president, our interest is reforms in the agriculture sector, and I would be in the best position to do that, if I will be the chairman of agriculture (committee), the returning senator further said.
When Aquino was asked if he would support Escudero, he replied “We are finalizing that.”
During the May 12 elections, Escudero had openly expressed his support for the return of Aquino to the Senate.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also expressed sympathy for Senator Risa Hontiveros, after reports surfaced that Aquino and Pangilinan may be moving to join the Senate majority bloc in the 20th Congress.
Zubiri, who is part of the emerging ‘veterans bloc’ with Senators Ping Lacson, Loren Legarda, and Tito Sotto, extended an open invitation to Hontiveros to join their group, which he said will act as fiscalizers in the Senate, should Senate President Chiz Escudero secure re-election.*
