19 senators now with Koko’s ‘super majority’

MANILA, Philippines – The race for the Senate presidency is over even before the voting on Monday after 19 senators signed the resolution supporting the leadership of Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III of PDP-Laban.

The first regular session of the 17th Congress opens on July 25 when members of the Senate and the House of Representatives would elect their respective leaders.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who ran and lost as President Duterte’s runningmate, was seeking the Senate presidency, but Pimentel told reporters yesterday that three of his rival’s supporters in the chamber had signed a resolution to side with him.

The three senators who shifted support to Pimentel were Joseph Victor Ejercito, Richard Gordon and Juan Miguel Zubiri. Sen. Joel Villanueva also expressed support for Pimentel as Senate president.

Pimentel said he and Cayetano met on Tuesday night, during which the latter pointed out that they are both strong supporters of the Duterte administration.

Cayetano also requested Pimentel to address the concerns of senators, particularly the issue of committee chairmanships.

This leaves only Ralph Recto, Cynthia Villar, Francis Escudero, Antonio Trillanes IV and Cayetano as the senators not officially supporting Pimentel.

Whoever runs for the Senate presidency and loses becomes the minority leader.

Pimentel said he is willing to offer Cayetano the chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon committee if he chooses to join the majority.