A political shakeup may soon hit the Senate even before the 20th Congress officially opens, as a newly formed bloc of senators aligned with former president Rodrigo Duterte considers pushing for a change in Senate leadership.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa confirmed that at least five senators, including himself, Sens. Robinhood Padilla, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, and senator-elect Rodante Marcoleta, now form what is being called the “Duterte bloc.” This group, according to Dela Rosa, is still in the early stages of discussing their next steps, especially regarding leadership positions.
He shared that while they do not have a personal issue with Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, there have been circulating text messages suggesting a possible reorganization.
The bloc is waiting for Padilla’s return from abroad before making any formal decisions.
Sotto’s surprise return stirs Senate tension
A familiar name has surfaced as a potential alternative to Escudero — senator-elect Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. The former Senate president, who held the post from 2018 to 2022, expressed willingness to return to the top position if his allies can secure enough votes.
Sotto, now 76, could reclaim leadership if a majority of senators support the plan. The required number to unseat a sitting Senate president is 13.
Aside from Escudero, 11 senators will continue their terms in the new Congress, including Alan Peter Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, Jinggoy Estrada, Raffy Tulfo, Joel Villanueva, Robin Padilla, Mark Villar, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Joining them are reelected senators Pia Cayetano, Dela Rosa, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, and Imee Marcos; returning senators Bam Aquino, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, and Sotto; and newcomers Erwin Tulfo and Camille Villar.
Impeachment trial adds weight to Senate presidency
The potential leadership change carries even more weight with the expected impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Senators will serve as judges during the trial, and a conviction would require a two-thirds vote — or 16 out of the 24 senators.
Dela Rosa acknowledged that aside from Sotto, both Zubiri and Cayetano are qualified to lead the Senate. He said that while Cayetano has not officially joined their bloc, they are open to including him.
Dela Rosa pointed out that Cayetano had been Duterte’s running mate during the 2016 elections, which makes him a natural ally. However, final alignment discussions are still pending.
The growing influence of the Duterte bloc could set the stage for intense political maneuvering ahead of the opening session. With Senate leadership on the line and a major impeachment trial looming, alliances and loyalties are expected to shift quickly in the coming weeks.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.