The “Macho Bloc” is now a thing of the past in the Senate with the emergence of the so-called “Apat na Sikat” composed of former matinee idols-turned-politicians.
Senator-elect Jinggoy Estrada replied said there is “no need to revive the “macho bloc” following his return in the Upper Chamber after winning a seat in the last May elections.
Instead, Estrada said “may apat na sikat na” referring to himself, Senator-elect Robin Padilla, Senator Bong Revilla, and Senator Lito Lapid.
The four senators are idolized by the Filipino moviegoers prior to their joining the political bandwagon.
Estrada and Padilla will serve in the Senate until 2028 while the terms of Revilla and Lapid expires in 2025.
The members of the “Macho Bloc” are Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson, and Senator Gringo Honasan.
Sotto and Lacson will “graduate” as senators on January 30 while Honasan failed to return to the Senate after losing in the elections.
Sought about his expectations from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. , Estrada stressed he is very confident that the incoming President will do good.
He related seeing the sincerity and determination of Marcos to serve during the election campaign.
“He really wants to serve the Filipino people,” noted Estrada at the sidelines of his oath taking before Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan Tuesday night at East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Pasay City.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by the senators’ parents, former President Joseph Estrada, and former Sen. Loi Ejercito, his own family and siblings, among others.
On the Supreme Court’s latest decision declaring that Marcos is qualified to be elected as president, Estrada said he agreed with the magistrates’ ruling.
“That’s right. How can 15 members of the SC rule against the 31 million who voted for BBM (Bongbong Marcos),” Estrada said.
While he ran under the UniTeam of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, Estrada however, guaranteed he would keep an independent mind. He said the Senate which is dominated by allies of Marcos and Duterte would not be a rubber stamp of the Palace.