Drilon named Senate minority leader

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon is the new Senate minority leader.

This was after he and other Liberal Party members and ally namely Sens. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros were ousted from their committee chairmanships. All of them also shifted to the minority bloc thereafter.

Drilon’s minority leadership was nominated by Aquino. The nomination was seconded by Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

Sen. Ralph Recto on Monday replaced Drilon.

On the other hand, a report from The STAR said that Aquino was elected as Deputy Minority Leader.

Prior to the voting of Drilon for minority leadership, detained Sen. Leila de Lima manifested that she also wants to withdraw from the majority group and join the opposition group. She wrote the letter addressed to Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and it was read by Sotto before the body.

De Lima joined her fellow Liberal Party colleagues and Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes at the minority bloc.

The Senate reshuffling was done after De Lima was arrested last Friday.