Exclusive - Around 15 Senators Met At Sen. Pacquiao's Home To Discuss LP Ouster!

On February 28, Boxing legend Senator Manny Pacquiao revealed that he met with 15 of his colleagues at his residence at Makati for a meeting concerning the ouster of Liberal Party (LP) senators from their senate positions.

According to the report made by GMA News, Sen. Pacquiao said that their meeting took place at around Sunday evening.

Although the meeting took place at his home, Pacquiao couldn’t confirm the actual number of senators who arrived at his residence. 

"Di ko ma-ano ‘yung bilang. Siguro nasa 15 or 16 [senators], di ko sigurado kung ano; 15 or 16, I’m not sure," Pacquiao said. 

Pacquiao even confirmed that the plans to remove the LP senators from their positions were decided at the meeting. 

However, the boxing champion clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte had no idea that the meeting took place. 

"Hindi niya alam. Wala silang kinalaman dito. Naisip namin siyempre we always believe that we're independent [in] the Senate," Pacquiao said.

Last Monday, Senator Pacquiao made the motion to vacate the position of Senate President Pro Tempore along with chairmanships of the committees on health, education, and agriculture.

Coincidentally, Pacquiao also revealed the majority bloc met shortly before the plenary session on Monday.

After the ousting of certain senators from their positions, the following changes have been made to fill those positions: 

Committee on Health chair Risa Hontiveros was replaced by Senator JV Ejercito. Hontiveros remains on the committee on women.

Committee on Education chair Bam Aquino was replaced by Senator Chiz Escudero. Aquino still retains his position on the committee on science. 

Committee on Agriculture chair Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan was replaced by Senator Cythia Villar. 

Former Minority Leader Ralph Recto replaced Senator Franklin Drilon as Senate President Pro Tempore. Drilon retains his position as chairperson of the committee on constitutional amendments.

Senators Drilon, Pangilinan, and Aquino are all members of the Liberal Party while Senator Hontiveros is a member of Akbayan Party, allies of the LP.

Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III confirmed his appearance at the meeting with a text message saying, “Yes I was there.”

Sotto also revealed that all members of the majority bloc were present during the meeting. Escudero and Recto, both members of the minority bloc, were absent. 

"We discussed the blurring of lines, how many times they voted and sided with the minority, how many of us were not pro-administration but not anti-administration," Sen. Sotto said.

"Na mabuti pa si Ralph and Chiz were supportive of most legislative agenda," he added.

Pacquiao agreed to the statements made by Sotto.

"Feeling namin napapaikutan kami sa ulo at feeling namin, binabaril namin ‘yung kalaban sa harapan dun eh hindi namin alam na yung kalaban namin binabaril din kami sa likod namin kasi kasama namin sa so ganun ang feeling namin," Pacquiao said.

A rather chilling metaphor for the turbulent times we Filipinos have endured under the Duterte Administration. 

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Source: TNP , GMA