A senator said on Thursday that any move to change the Senate leadership will only succeed if those behind it have enough votes.
The remark was made amid reports of an alleged attempt to unseat Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, which circulated over the weekend.
“So, kapag hindi natuloy ang isang coup d’etat, ang problema po diyan is number. Siyempre coup d’etat will only happen if one group has the number. Pero siguro yun ang reason, baka wala number,” Senator Erwin Tulfo said in a phone patch interview with Senate reporters.
He said he and his brother, Sen. Raffy Tulfo, will remain with the minority bloc.
“Wala naman pong nagba-budge sa amin. Paano po yan? Doon sa kabila, wala rin naman po nagba-budge. Wala rin naman gustong sumama sa amin,” he said.
He described the current Senate numbers as fluid, saying the majority and minority blocs are separated by only a narrow margin. He noted that the balance could shift if just one senator crosses sides.
“Sabi nga nila 13-11, nabawasan ng isa, 12-11. Isa lang ang kailangan di ba? Kung para maging 12 kami, 11 sila. Eh di isang tao lang kailangan. Hindi naman marami,” Tulfo said.
He was referring to the change in numbers after Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa left the Senate, reducing the majority bloc’s count.
He noted that discussions about a possible leadership change continue because of the close numbers.
“Tuloy-tuloy po yan. Look at the number, 12-11. Parang matutukso ka eh, 12 lang sila, 11 kami. Isa lang po ang humakbang diyan, tapos ang boksing,” he said.
Despite the speculation, Tulfo said any leadership challenge would depend entirely on whether the bloc seeking change can secure the necessary support.