Senators met in Pacquiao’s house to plan Monday’s Senate shakeup

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Manny Pacquiao admitted on Tuesday that at least 15 senators met in his house in Makati City to plan the reorganization of the Senate which resulted in the removal of Liberal Party (LP) senators and allies from their positions.

Pacquiao told reporters that around 15 to 16 of his colleagues went to his house on Sunday night to discuss and plan the reorganization of the Senate. This led to the removal of LP Sens. Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino and Akbayan Sen. Risa Hontiveros from the key posts they were holding.

When asked if the Senate shakeup on Monday indeed transpired in his house, Pacquiao answered: “Yes.”

“Hindi ko ilan ba yung pumunta hindi ko maano yung eksaktong bilang. Siguro nasa 15 to 16. Hindi ko sigurado kung ano 15 o 16. I’m not sure,” the boxing superstar said.

Pacquiao gave an explanation similar to that given by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III as to why they had to reorganize the upper chamber.

“Kasama niyo, kasama mo e yun ang bumabaril sa’yo,” the senator pointed out.

“Ayoko nang mamulitika-mulitika dito trabaho na tayo hindi na ito eleksyon. Hindi eleksyon ngayon. Trabaho tayo. Nakakahiya sa taong bayan na binoto tayo, pinagkatiwalaan tayo,” said Pacquiao, who had the worst attendance record in the 16^th Congress when he was still the representative of Sarangani Province.

Pangilinan, however, clarified that their group’s sidelining was not because of “hampered work.”

In a statement early on Tuesday, he said that the reorganization was meant to ensure that the Senate would toe the line on issues that might negatively affect the administration. He said it was not meant to improve its work.

Pangilinan said that members of the new minority were even the ones who had more bills in the advanced stages of passing.

“How can work in the Senate be hampered by the now minority members, including four from the Liberal Party, when almost 70 percent (20 of 29) of the bills now a couple of steps into becoming a law are being defended by us?” Pangilinan asked.

Pacquiao also clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte did not have a hand in what transpired on Monday at the Senate. He said that what they did was meant only to improve the efficiency of the chamber.

This was contrary to what the LP said after it insinuated that the Palace maneuvered their removal.