Only 2 minority senators? Risa Hontiveros, Koko Pimentel unfazed

MANILA, Philippines — Senators Risa Hontiveros and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III are unfazed by the prospect of being the only two members of the minority bloc in the Senate in the 19th Congress.

There have been reports of sibling Senators Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano possibly joining the minority, but the talks still appear to be cursory and tentative with the opening of the 19th Congress just a little over two weeks away.

“If there are those willing to join us – but on the basis of my agreement with Sen. Koko that we’ll be a true minority and we’ll be a fruitful minority, and that has been my principle from the start, so it’s not important how few we are as long as we’re the true minority,” Hontiveros said in Filipino during an online press conference.

When asked whether or not they are intimidated by the possibility of facing a 22-member majority bloc led by the presumptive Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, she replied: “Not at all.”

“We remain steadfast to do checks and balances, and be fruitful in terms of new laws for our countrymen,” she said.

The senator admitted that they have little to offer to Cayetano to join the minority but stressed she and Pimentel were “happy” as it is.

Hontiveros earlier said the political opposition will help the Marcos administration revive the economy and repair the damage inflicted by the pandemic, but will continue to fight violence, oppression, disinformation and historical revisionism.