“You don’t see us slinging mud at each other,” said Pangilinan referring to Sen. Franklin Drilon.

Pangilinan and Drilon are vying for the party’s nomination as candidate for the Senate presidency.

“Frank and I worked closely together during the electoral campaign. As Senate slate campaign manager, I campaigned heavily for Frank as much as I did for the rest of the LP Senate slate. Frank and I have been political allies since 2001, and we will remain so even after the SP race is over. There’s no rift between us.”

“Inasmuch as I respect anyone in the running for Senate President, I am as qualified as Senator Drilon, Senator Villar, or whoever else might be in the running. Nagkataon lang na magka-partido kami ni Frank, pero ‘di naman ‘yun dahilan para mag-away kami. There is a process we have to go through, and we must abide by it.”

Sen. Edgardo Angara said he and his bloc in the Senate will support a Senate President who presents a genuine and strategic legislative reform agenda.

Angara confirmed that several aspirants for Senate President have already talked to his group, but they have yet to decide.

“We want someone who has vision and foresight, and who will prioritize laws that will propel the country’s growth, create jobs and ensure the delivery of basic social services,” he said.

The Angara bloc has the biggest number of members with seven. It is comprised of Angara, majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Gregorio Honasan and Vicente Sotto III.