Senators weigh in on Mark Villar’s majority bloc move

MANILA, Philippines — Senators from the majority bloc weighed in on the move of Sen. Mark Villar to bolt the Alan Peter Cayetano-led minority to join them in the ruling coalition in the upper chamber.

Speaking to dzMM yesterday, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said he and Villar’s family are good friends, even before their Senate terms.

“As for myself and Mark, we have been friends for a long time; in fact, he is very close to our family. So, we know each other personally. In our discussions, we share the same desire for the Senate to remain stable and for work to proceed smoothly – especially regarding legislation and the measures needed to boost our economy,” Gatchalian said.

The Senate President said Villar moved to join them in the majority because he liked the current leadership’s “direction” and “to bring stability.”

Former senate president Franklin Drilon had a completely different take on the latest shift in political allegiances.

Speaking to dwIZ yesterday, Drilon did not mince his words in saying Villar’s move was indicative of how he would vote in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Let’s be frank. That’s one added vote for conviction,” he said without elaborating.

Amid talk that Villar’s move meant a sure conviction vote, Gatchalian said senator-judges like them have to rely on the evidence presented in rendering their decision.

“It all boils down to the evidence and how the senators weigh that evidence. So, when it comes to the impeachment, the senators are independent in their appreciation of the evidence,” he said.

“The senators will certainly have varying mindsets when it comes to the impeachment,” Gatchalian added.

Villar was a member of the majority before he joined Cayetano in ousting then Senate president Vicente Sotto III last May. He stood by Cayetano when the latter became minority leader after his ouster last June. With Villar’s move to the majority, he leaves behind his sister, Sen. Camille Villar, who remains with the Cayetano bloc.

He made the jump as their family faces preliminary investigation by the ombudsman for graft over residents’ complaints in the water service of the erstwhile Villar-led PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp.

Cayetano has said Villar’s move was meant to appease the administration which wanted to have more allies in the upper chamber.

Amid talk that the next minority senator to jump ship is Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said Legarda is welcome, having been a member of the majority before she aligned herself with Cayetano.

Gatchalian said he wished Legarda well amid reports that her medical leave abroad was for treatment of her serious lung condition.

Legarda’s medical leave abroad coincided with a preliminary plunder investigation on her and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, for their role in alleged ghost solar farm projects.

Legarda’s spokesman Tony La Viña has said the senator is open to rejoining the majority amid shifting alliances that is “normal” in the Senate.