00:00Meanwhile, Senator Vicente Tito Soto has made no alibis or pretenses of his wish to lead the Senate anew,
00:06but won't mind settling for leading the minority if Plan A does not pan out.
00:10Meanwhile, known oppositionist Sen. Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino are a cinch to comprise the minority
00:15along with Sen. Rizan Tiberos should she decide not to go it alone as an independent.
00:21Our Daniel Manalastas has more.
00:22Sen. Tito Soto, whose name is being floated as a possible contender to the Senate Presidency,
00:31now said that he is open to lead the minority bloc,
00:35but also reiterated that he is still open to accept the Senate Presidency if his colleagues want him.
00:52But that possible Soto's Senate Presidency might not push through should the election for the Senate's top post be held today.
01:19As according to Sen. Joel Villanueva, he is confident that if the election for the Senate Presidency was conducted today,
01:28Sen. President Francis Escudero will keep his position.
01:32I am confident because I've talked to at least majority of the Senators.
01:39So I can say that, but of course, every day is another day.
01:48Hindi ko masabi kong magbabagong isip yung mga nakausap ko, but as far as I'm concerned, dun sa mga nakausap ko.
01:55Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who just filed his first bills as a senator, said that he talked with his brother,
02:03Sen. Rafi Tulfo, and decided.
02:05Weighing things and talking to my brother, my brother said, let's go for the majority
02:10kasi maraming mga gusto ang Pangulo na dinadaan sa majority at hindi ko makontra majority.
02:17So I guess we'll go with the majority.
02:18But when asked if he supports Sen. Escudero,
02:23Are you with SPCs? Are you supporting him to be still the SP, sir?
02:28Kung diyo naman sa majority, then what I heard kanina umaga yata,
02:32si Sen. Soto sabi niya willing siya maging nasa minority siya, parang is he accepting that?
02:39I'll be the majority.
02:40Sen. Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, believes that for now, it is more realistic for her to be part of the independent bloc.
02:48Hindi pa consideration sa inyo na tumakbo rin, para lang, just for the sake to get the minority leadership.
02:56Siguro early on, inisip ko rin, pero I think mas realistic na either,
03:04mas realistic siguro na maging bahagi ng independent bloc.
03:08Oo. Given the numbers, I will not join the majority again.
03:13I haven't been part of the majority in almost nine years.
03:17And tingin ko, consistent sa pagiging miyembro ko ng minority,
03:22either manatili sa minority or magbuo ng isang independent bloc,
03:26o maging independent.
03:28Hindi lang dahil sa nakaraan, pero dahil din sa kinabukasan.
03:32Daniel Manastas from The National TV for New and Better Philippines.
