MANILA — Sen. Bam Aquino said the ongoing Senate leadership dispute should not be framed as a contest between the Marcos and Duterte political camps, stressing that many Filipinos are seeking independent and issue-based governance.

In an interview on ANC’s Headstart, Aquino said the public narrative that leaders must align with either bloc is misleading and does not reflect the sentiment of many citizens.

“’Yan ang pinakamalaking kasinungalingan ngayon na binibenta sa publiko na dalawang grupo lang, either Sara ka o Marcos ka. Mas marami sa mga kababayan natin, don’t want either (That is the biggest lie being sold to the public now, that there are only two groups, either you are for Sara or for Marcos. Many of our countrymen do not want either),” Aquino said.

He said more Filipinos prefer leaders who independently evaluate issues and act based on public interest.

“Mas marami sa mga Pilipino, sa tingin ko, nandito sa gitna. Naghahanap ng lunas, naghahanap ng tulong, naghahanap ng Senado at ng gobyerno na natutulong talaga sa kanila (I think more Filipinos are in the middle. They are looking for solutions, for help, for a Senate and government that can truly assist them),” he added.

Aquino said recent events, including the earthquake in Mindanao, highlight the need for government officials to focus on public service rather than political divisions.

“Ang hinahanap ng tao, sino bang tutugon sa mga problema ko? Hindi yung, kanino-sino yung boss mo? Boss mo ba ito? Boss mo ba iyan? Dapat kami yung boss mo (What people are looking for is who will respond to their problems, not who your boss is. Is this your boss? Is that your boss? We should be your boss),” he said.

He also said the bloc aligned with Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for a return to normal Senate operations, focusing on reforms and legislative work.

Aquino said the leadership change followed the inability of the chamber to hold sessions for three consecutive days, which he said affected both senators and Senate staff.

He added that the Gatchalian bloc anchors its position on jurisprudence and Senate precedents, citing the 1949 Avelino v. Cuenco ruling and past quorum practices.