Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

JV Ejercito

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Sen. JV Ejercito said he and four other senators considered leaving the majority bloc at the Senate but said nobody is moving to replace Senate President Vicente Sotto III in the chamber&#x27;s leadership.Ejercito said in a text message to ABS-CBN News said they had thought of &quot;being independent.&quot;Asked why, Ejercito said: &quot;For me the focus should be sa real culprits ng modus, mukhang nawawala doon (I think we are losing focus).&quot;The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has been investigating the corruption of government flood control projects at the Department of Public Works and Highways.The investigation has so far implicated three senators — Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva — and just one congressman: Resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who chaired the House Appropriations Committee which prepares the national budget bill.None have been formally accused and all have denied allegations of involvement in corruption in flood control projects.Asked if he meant that the focus should be on the House of Representatives, Ejercito said &quot;that&#x27;s where the modus started.&quot; He added: &quot;How can we introduce legislation to prevent occurrences of such if we don’t pursue.&quot;A five-person independent bloc would not be enough to take the Senate leadership but joining the nine-member minority bloc would bring them beyond the 13 needed to secure a majority and would allow them to influence the leadership.Ejercito however said he is just focused on his work.&quot;It was a thought. Trabaho lang ako. I am just frustrated and sad at what is happening to this country. Hindi na tayo makausad (We cannot move forward).&quot; He said the majority has already held a caucus and he hopes that will help smooth relations in the bloc.&quot;Said my piece and concerns. Nagkausap-usap na (We have talked about issues,&quot; Ejercito said. &quot;There is no coup or move for a leadership change also.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/2/why-imee-left-the-senate-group-chat-2026">Why Imee left the Senate group chat</a></div><div> </div><div>IMEE MARCOS LEAVES GROUP CHAT</div>Sotto meanwhile said he is has not been discrediting or oppressing any of his colleagues. He said, however, that they are entitled to their opinions after Sen. Imee Marcos left the senators&#x27; group chat over a disagreement.Marcos on Thursday posted screenshots of her leaving the chat, saying she was confused on how the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee proceedings would go.Asked for comment, Lacson said Marcos should attend hearings and pay attention while in the session hall so she wouldn&#x27;t be confused.“Also, magbasa siya ng mga announcements sa all-senators chat group para updated siya.” (Also, she should read announcements in the all-senators chat group so she is updated)Marcos said the group chat, hearings and the Senate sessions were focused on pinning fellow senators down.“Noon, kapag may sakuna o delubyo, lahat ng senador, sa tulong ng pamumuno nito ay nagkukumahog manawagan ng pakikiisa, nagpapaikot ng ambagan. Ngayon, ito ang inaatupag, siraan, na mas malala pa sa lindol,” she remarked.“Ayoko dyan.”(In the past, in times of calamity, senators would rush to call for unity and to gather aid. Now, it&#x27;s all about discrediting others, which is worse than the earthquake. I don&#x27;t wany any part of it.)<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/29/-sarswela-ni-martin-escudero-tags-ex-speaker-romualdez-in-flood-control-mess-1604">&#x27;Sarswela ni Martin&#x27;: Escudero tags ex-Speaker Romualdez in flood control mess </a></div>Earlier  Wednesday,  Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri maintained there no disunity in the majority bloc.&quot;The Senate remains strong, credible and focused on passing meaningful legislation,&quot; he said as he cautioned the public against believing rumors.On Monday, Escudero said that &quot;justice [is] be weaponized against the innocent to protect the guilty&quot;, adding the Senate investigation was not looking into House members linked to the ghost projects.He also claimed that Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who resigned as speaker over the flood control controversy, is working to put blame on the Senate and away from the House.He added senators implicated in the controversy have only had their names mentioned at hearings and that no actual proof has been presented to substantiate the allegations of kickbacks and of influence on projects.

"Said my piece and concerns. Nagkausap-usap na. (We have talked about issues)," Sen. JV Ejercito said. "There is no coup or move for a leadership change also."

"Said my piece and concerns. Nagkausap-usap na. (We have talked about issues)," Sen. JV Ejercito said. "There is no coup or move for a leadership change also."

Ejercito says he and 4 others considered leaving Sotto-led Senate majority

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Ejercito says he and 4 others considered leaving Sotto-led Senate majority

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 03, 2025 01:30 PM PHT

Read More:

JV Ejercito

Vicente Sotto III

Panfilo Lacson

Juan Miguel Zubiri

Imee Marcos

Senate

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