Zubiri bloc may join Senate minority

MANILA, Philippines — The “Solid 7” group of former Senate chief Juan Miguel Zubiri is thinking of creating a more formidable minority bloc under the Senate presidency of Francis Escudero.

In an interview on “Storycon” over One News, Sen. JV Ejercito said he and the five other senators who sided with Zubiri – Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara and Sherwin Gatchalian – call themselves the Solid 7 composed of “independent senators” who were not part of Escudero’s ouster move.

“We agreed to remain independent at this time and to make sure that we will always fight for the independence of the Senate. We will let our emotions simmer down a bit… we will have enough time to think about the direction we will take,” Ejercito said, noting the upcoming two-month adjournment of Congress.

“But if the black propaganda continues, we will have no choice but to join the minority,” he added, referring to the two-member minority bloc composed of Senators Koko Pimentel and Risa Hontiveros.

Ejercito clarified, however, that being in the minority would not mean they would be part of the opposition, noting Zubiri and the former leadership’s support for the Marcos administration.

Should they decide to go through that route, he said they will be “fiscalizers” and not “obstructionists.”

“Senate being the last bastion of democracy, it is the character of the Senate to be independent and we would want to keep the Senate’s independence a priority,” said Ejercito.

Zubiri had said they would think over the break if they would join the two-member minority, or maintain their clique as “seatmates” who would be an “independent bloc” in the Senate.

Meanwhile, Escudero shrugged off fears there would be a more powerful minority bloc under his leadership.

During the Kapihan sa Senado yesterday, he said the minority is still composed of Pimentel and Hontiveros because only the two of them abstained from the Senate presidency elections.

As for the Solid 7, Escudero said “they are free to manifest during session if they decide to join the minority. But for now, they are still part of the majority. Regardless, I consider them all members of the Senate.”

Ejercito lamented the