Manila, June 30, 2022 - Nothing is yet certain about the final leader of the next Congress. In the Senate, it is still a 3-way fight for the Senate Presidency, with Senator-elect Francis Joseph Escudero insisting that he's still in the race.
"It is not yet final, we (Cayetano, Go) still have to talk and discuss the issue next week.
It was Senator Christopher Go who said Pimentel has expressed willingness to settle for the chairmanship of two committees and by doing so, had virtually withdrawn his bid. Pimentel refused to comment about it, saying he did not want to make it appear that he and his rivals were "horse-trading."
Fernan claims to have the support of 21 senators and will try to convince Go to back out for the sake of Senate unity. But Go said he would push for the holding of secret balloting to elect the next Senate President. Secret balloting, Ople said, is the only way the true will of the senators would be reflected and it would also deter outside interference in Senate affairs.
In the House of Representatives, it is a 3-cornered fight as well, with Reps. Lord Velasco and Gloria Arroyo challenge the richest member of Congress, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez for the post of Speaker.
A list leaked to newsmen showed that Velasco and Arroyo may coalesce and use the strength of their 95 congressmen-allies. The figure is 30 congressmen short of the required majority to secure the post.
The group of Las Pinas Rep. Manny Villar, which earlier claimed to have the support of more than 150 congressmen, could only come up with 56 and is now scrambling to secure the votes of 67 uncommitted, undecided solons.
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