MANILA, Philippines —The Senate leadership is on a precarious situation as the minority bloc gained two more members bringing the power equation to 13-11.
Sens. JV Ejercito and Migz Zubiri, who opted to be independent during the May 11 Senate coup, decided to join the minority group.
The minority needs just two more senators to unseat Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
Cayetano secured 13 votes to oust then Senate president Vicente Sotto III and install him as his successor. Nine senators remained loyal to Sotto while Zubiri and Ejercito abstained.
During Monday's session, Zubiri took the rostrum to say, "I would like to be associated with the minority bloc, Mr. President (Cayetano), if I may."
"They even denounced me. They said I resorted to fence-sitting when I abstained. I abstained so that I have a free hand to vote on which issue that I think is important for the Filipino people," Zubiri said in Filipino and English.
"But when it comes to the reorganization, I would like to associate myself with the minority," Zubiri added.
Ejercito thanked Cayetano for the trust and honor that he offered to him to become the majority leader. "But as I have mentioned to you personally as of this time, I would rather maintain my independence."
Cayetano then asked Ejercito, "So, for the purposes of today, to the future, and unless a change is made, will you be an independent or will you be with the minority?"
"Yes, for now, Mr. President, I'll be with the minority. But again, I would like to thank you for that and for the respect, and we will all still be friends no matter what," Ejercito replied.
Cayetano earlier said that there were moves to remove him as Senate president.
