Sen. Vicente Sotto III acknowledged being “too strict” during his previous term as Senate President, saying it was necessary to uphold discipline and order—remarks made amid speculation he could lose the leadership race to Sen. Chiz Escudero.
Despite the competition, Sen. JV Ejercito emphasized that political differences have not affected his friendship with former ally Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who now belongs to the newly formed “Veterans” bloc alongside Sotto.
Meanwhile, former Senate president Franklin Drilon criticized the lack of a genuine political party system in the Senate, calling it a “confederation of 24 republics” where individual agendas often override party platforms.
He added that the blurred lines between administration and opposition camps reflect a larger shift toward personality-driven politics.
As alliances shift and leadership races intensify, Drilon emphasized the need for institutional reforms to restore party integrity in Philippine governance.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 9, 2025
