Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa revealed on Wednesday that seven senators from the Duterte-aligned bloc, known as “Duter7,” have committed their support to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s re-election bid.
“We’ve already agreed on it. I don’t know if everyone signed, but I have,” Dela Rosa stated. “We call ourselves the Duter7.”
The group includes Senators Bong Go, Robin Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, and Dela Rosa himself.
According to Dela Rosa, the decision to back Escudero stems from his open-minded and inclusive leadership style. “He listens to all sides, and that’s what we admire about his leadership,” he explained.
Dela Rosa also emphasized that his support was not tied to any political favors, such as key committee posts or influencing the potential impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. “I didn’t ask for anything. I simply appreciate the way he leads. He’s not close-minded, and that’s important in a democratic body,” he added.
In May 2024, Dela Rosa was emotional during the resignation of former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who stepped down after losing support among senators. Despite that, Dela Rosa voted for Escudero to take the helm.