After weeks of speculation, Senator Bam Aquino has confirmed the possibility of joining the Senate majority bloc when the 20th Congress opens, citing the strategic importance of securing key committee positions.
In an interview on the radio program Good Times with Mo, Aquino revealed that both he and fellow opposition senator Kiko Pangilinan are considering joining the majority to gain control of the Committees on Education and Agriculture—committees they campaigned strongly for during the 2025 midterm elections.
“So we are leaning towards the majority bloc, primarily because of the commitees,” Aquino explained.
“So diba matagal na nating pinag-uusapan yung Commitee on Education, i guess for Sen. Kiko (Pangilinan) is Commitee on Agriculture and those are the commitees that you can only get if nasa majority kayo.”
He stressed that these committees are critical due to the scope and impact of their mandates, particularly in overseeing major government agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd) and addressing national issues like food security and prices.
“So a commitee which is powerful like education kasi you know, malaki ang ahensya like DepED, malaki yung mandato, education or agriculture which is basically food and food price, these are committees na hindi mo makukuha kung nasa minority ka.”
Despite this political maneuver, Aquino clarified that his principles remain unchanged: “Pareho pa rin, i’m still an Independent. I’m not pro-Marcos, i’m not pro-Duterte, i’m pro-Filipino People.”
STILL IN SYNC WITH THE MINORITY?
When asked whether there’s still a chance he and Pangilinan might align with opposition ally Senator Risa Hontiveros in the minority bloc, Aquino said it depends on the outcome of committee assignments.
“If i don’t get the commitee (on education), we’re joining the minority,” he stated.
He added, “So nagsabi na ako to the groups who are vying na i will join the majority if i get the Commitee on Education and it’s my priority.”
Aquino recalled a similar situation at the start of the Duterte administration, when he, Pangilinan, and Hontiveros initially joined the majority but moved to the minority after being removed from key posts.