Despite even smaller Senate minority, scrutiny of admin proposals to continue

MANILA, Philippines—The four remaining members of the Senate minority will still act as a check on the majority, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Tuesday, adding the bloc has a good relationship with the chamber's leadership.

When the 18th Congress meets in July, the minority will have lost Sens. Antonio Trillanes IV and Bam Aquino. Sen. Leila De Lima is in detention over drug-related charges that she has repeatedly said are politically motivated.

That leaves Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Drilon with access to hearings and to the Senate floor.

"We will continue to fiscalize. The rules and the tradition of the Senate will always recognize the voice of the minority. There is no railroading in the Senate," Drilon said.

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"You saw it yesterday. We study every law that comes in the agenda," he told Senate reporters.

Although the Commission on Elections has yet to officially proclaim the winners of the senatorial race, most of the candidates in the top 12 are from the administration-backed Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

Sen. Grace Poe, who ran as an independent, and Sen. Nancy Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance are members of the Senate majority.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said last week that even if the new senators are seen as friendly to the administration, it will not mean that the Senate will lose its independence.

"Si Nancy, hindi pro-administration yan, independent-minded yan. Yung number 11, si Bong Revilla, independent-minded din yan. Lalo na si Grace Poe," he said.

(Nancy is not pro-administration. She is independent-minded. The one at Number 11, Bong Revilla, he is also independent-minded. Grace Poe is even more so)

Sotto said that the Senate will not hesitate to oppose policies that will not benefit the public.

"We have had a good relationship with the leadership of this Congress. Senate President Sotto has been treating us fairly and has given us the appropriate respect as members of the minority," Drilon said Tuesday.

Asked whether the minority would gain new members, Drilon replied in Filipino: "I don't know about that."