The so-called “Duterte bloc” in the Philippine Senate now finds itself officially in the minority, marking a major shift in the upper chamber’s political dynamics.
During the Senate session on September 9, 2025, Senator Miguel Zubiri called on members to formally identify the composition of the minority to help determine committee representation. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano responded and submitted a list, naming himself, along with eight other lawmakers, as part of the new minority group.
The members now aligned with the minority are Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Imee Marcos, Christopher “Bong” Go, Rodante Marcoleta, Robinhood Padilla, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, and Cayetano himself.
Cayetano has taken the helm as the new Senate minority leader, with Villanueva and Marcoleta serving as his deputy minority leaders.
A number of these senators—Go, Dela Rosa, Padilla, Marcoleta, and Marcos—had earlier dubbed themselves the “Duter7,” a group aligned with former president Rodrigo Duterte. The bloc initially included Senator Mark Villar and Senator Camille Villar, but notably, both were absent from Cayetano’s minority list.
