Hontiveros joins Sotto-led minority bloc

Sen. Risa Hontiveros announced on Monday at a press conference an hour before the 20th Congress opens its first regular session that she will join the minority bloc led by Sen. Vicente Sotto III, rather than forming an independent bloc as initially planned.

Hontiveros said her plan to form or join an independent bloc would not push through after learning of another group organizing an opposition bloc, which now includes Senators Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Despite their previous differences on social legislation such as the divorce and gender equality bills, Hontiveros vowed to continue working as an independent-minded lawmaker with like-minded colleagues in check and balance and fiscalizing important issues based on Senate rules and traditions.

Hontiveros added she will continue strengthening the political opposition outside the Senate while working within it.

In the previous Congress, the opposition bloc consisted solely of Hontiveros and Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III.