Sen. Francis Escudero on Wednesday crossed over to the bloc led by Sen. Vicente Sotto III, giving the group what it described as a “simple majority” amid the continuing standoff in the Senate.
Sotto and 10 other senators were already inside the session hall by 3 p.m., waiting for the camp of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to attend the final session day of the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress before the scheduled sine die adjournment on June 5.
Escudero later came out of the senators’ lounge by himself and proceeded directly to the plenary, where he was received by members of the Sotto-led bloc.
In a statement, Escudero said the impasse in the chamber had reached a point that was “untenable and unacceptable,” warning that political divisions should not prevent the Senate from fulfilling its mandate.
“When political divisions become too extreme and obstruct our mandate, we must all have the courage to pause, gain perspective, reflect, consider, and realize that we should put the Senate, as the institution that we serve, above ourselves,” Escudero said.
He emphasized that his move should not be seen as a show of loyalty to any side, but as an act meant to protect the institution.
“My allegiance is not to any faction, personality, group, or alliance. This is not about loyalty, betrayal, or choosing one group over the other, this is about duty,” he said.
Escudero said the issue had gone beyond factional politics, as the deadlock was already affecting the Senate’s ability to serve the public.
“Hindi ito usaping pampolitika. Wala akong sinasamahan o iniiwasang grupo, pangkat o paksiyon. Hindi ko sinasabi na may mali o tama o may nagkulang o nagmalabis kaninuman. Ngunit hindi puwedeng manatili tayo sa ganitong sitwasyon. Ang naaapektuhan na ay ang Senado na gampanan ang kaniyang tungkulin sa bayan,” he said.
He said this was the reason for his decision to leave the Cayetano-led bloc, while asking the public for understanding and prayers as the Senate works through the crisis.