Despite swirling rumors of a Senate shake-up, Senators Bong Go and Robinhood Padilla made one thing clear on Monday: they are staying put.
The two senators firmly denied claims that they would leave the Senate minority bloc to join the majority. And they didn’t just say it—they showed it.
Just before the Senate adjourned, Go and Padilla posed together on the floor. They flashed former President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature fist bump and held up a handwritten message that said:
“Duterte bloc kami. Kayo na lang sumama!”
(We’re the Duterte bloc. You go ahead and join them.)
It was a quiet moment—but a loud statement.
Soon after, Go took to Facebook to drive the point home.
“Solid Duterte bloc kami! Kahit tatlo na lang kami maiwan,” he wrote, referring to himself, Padilla, and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
(We are a solid Duterte bloc! Even if only three of us are left.)
Then came a reminder of what he says truly matters.
“Magtrabaho at magserbisyo na lang ang unahin natin kaysa pulitika.”
(Let’s focus on work and service instead of politics.)
The post included a short video showing Go writing the message that he and Padilla proudly held up—fist bump and all.
Any lingering doubt was quickly put to rest.
Padilla’s chief of staff, Atty. Rudolf Philip Jurado, confirmed that the senator remains part of the minority bloc led by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
“Sen. Robin Padilla is not leaving the minority bloc,” Jurado said.
The rumors began after Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III mentioned lighthearted banter about Go, Padilla, and even Senator Imee Marcos possibly joining the majority bloc.
Sotto later clarified that there were no formal talks—just jokes shared during casual encounters in the Senate lounge.
“Walang official na gano’n,” he said, stressing that the Senate remains independent and guided by what its members believe is right.
Still, the political tension has been building.
Just last Monday, Senator Erwin Tulfo officially took over as chair of the foreign relations committee, replacing Marcos. And earlier, Sotto claimed that the majority bloc had thwarted what he described as a coup attempt allegedly coming from the minority.
Against that backdrop, Go and Padilla’s message cut through the noise.
No transfers.
No deal-making.
No wavering.
Just a fist bump, a piece of paper, and a firm declaration:
They’re staying.
