ANGARA, BLOC TO DECIDE ON SP CHOICE THIS WEEK; DISPELS
RUMOR ON REVILLA SWING VOTE

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today said his bloc in the Senate will decide on who to support for the Senate leadership this week, before the 15th Congress opens 26 July. He also assured that his bloc still has the commitment of Senator Bong Revilla.

He said "a consolidated decision" will be made Wednesday this week after Senators Bong Revilla and Loren Legarda return from abroad.

In an interview over DZBB, Angara denied reports that Revilla has pledged support for LP bet Senator Kiko Pangilinan. "That is not accurate. There's no basis for that. I have no reason to doubt that we have Sen. Bong [Revilla] on our side," said Angara, himself a former Senate President.

"Whichever candidate we agree on, our group will solidly vote for. Our values and criteria remain the same: he should protect the Senate's independence, he should form a constructive-positive legislative agenda, and he should be able to cooperate with the new administration. We will not be obstructionist or oppose for opposition's sake. Our group wants the Senate to have a real contribution to the country's development, because it is high time for us to show the nation that politics is still relevant, that the Senate is a working institution," he stressed.

Angara's seven-man bloc is believed to be the deciding factor in the race for the Senate Presidency, having the most number of members.