SAYING everyone has the right to their own opinion, newly elected Senate Majority Floor leader Joel Villanueva said it is “no big deal” as far as he is concerned if neophyte Senator Robin Padilla did not vote for him for the position of Senate Majority Leader.

Villanueva, who expressed his gratitude to his colleagues after he was endorsed by Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and seconded by several senators to be the majority leader, said it was okay for him if Padilla chose not to vote in his favor.

The reaction of Villanueva came after neophyte Senator Robinhood Padilla who was also part of the supermajority of the Senate. Padilla refused to vote for him when the former actor turned senator stood up and announced this in the session hall during the opening of the 19th Congress.

“Ako po ay umiiwas sa pagboto sa Majority Floor Leader. Maraming salamat po,” said Padilla inside the session hall who stood during the votation of majority floor leadership wherein the majority of the Senators endorsed now Vilanueva as the new Majority Floor Leader.

When asked about how he felt, Villanueva admitted that he was surprised, just like his other colleagues but maintained that Padilla is entitled to his vote and rights.

“Siyempre nagulat kami sa timing but he (Padilla) is entitled to his own opinion. I will just do my job to serve the interest of the Filipino people,” Villanueva was quoted as saying.

Villanueva said although he was also surprised like other fellow senators, he was not offended by Sen. Padilla’s actuation and statement during the session, insisting that everyone has the right to speak his mind.

The incident occurred immediately after Senate President Miguel Migs Zubiri was installed as the new Senate Chief. Followed by Senator Loren Legarda, who was also elected as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Villanueva, meanwhile, was elected by his colleagues as the new chair of the Senate Committee on Rules, and as part of the tradition and rules, he or she will automatically the Majority Floor Leader of the Senate.

Padilla, who stood up during the pronouncement of support by a majority of the senators for Villanueva, said he “avoids” voting in favor of the new majority floor leader without elaborating his reasons.

The newly installed Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Villanueva, said he is not offended by neophyte Senator Padilla citing that everyone is entitled to his/her rights under a democratic system.

“Why will I be offended If I am elected by the majority. We are all professionals and elected by the Filipino people. He probably got his own reason,” Villanueva said during the ambush interview.

According to Villanueva, all senators should work not for their own sake or personal gain but should serve the Filipino people who entrusted their lives to them as elected senators of the Philippines.

“At the end of the day, we should serve the Filipino people. We have to do our job. The people are counting on us, especially now that we are facing many challenges, including the pandemic and the economic situations. Time to set aside our differences for the good of this nation,” Villanueva stressed.