Three-way fight for the Senate presidency seen
It’s a three-way fight for the Senate presidency with allies of incoming president Rodrigo Roa Duterte working towards building a strong majority in the 24-member Upper House to support the Duterte administration’s legislative agenda.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto of the administration Liberal Party (LP) said the possible candidates are Senate President Franklin M. Drilon whose LP has six members in the Upper House; the second is Sen. Vicente C. Sotto of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) which has three members but claims to have eight members in his group; and the third is a toss-up between Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, president of PDPLaban party which successfully carried Duterte to the presidency.
“Everyone is interested in the Senate leadership. Wala pa akong nakitang senador na hindi (I have not seen a senator who is not) interested maging (to be) Senate President. However, it’s not really a matter of kung sinong magiging (of who will become the) Senate President. It’s a matter of forming a strong majority that can deliver the culture of effectiveness and efficiency. Sa bigat ng legislative agenda ni President Duterte, kailangan
ng majority na 15-18,” he added. (Due to his top-heavy legislative agenda, President Duterte needs a majority of 15 to 18 members-senators.)
Cayetano, however, said that he is not inclined to help in building a majority if the discussions will be limited to who will head the chamber’s respective committees.
“We should go beyond the committees and positions and discuss the important measures that should be passed by the Senate under Presidentelect Duterte. Sa aking palagay, kahit sabihin nilang ako ang Senate President, pero hindi sila magko-commit sa legislative agenda (ni President Duterte), hindi ko rin kukunin ang pwesto,” he added. (Even if offered the Senate presidency but if my colleagues cannot commit themselves to Duterte’s legislative agenda, I will reject the offer.)
When asked whether he was interested in the Senate presidency, Cayetano said he wants to focus more on building a strong majority that will help Duterte realize his plans of creating real changes in the country.
Among the key measures that Cayetano intends to push in the next Congress are the implementation of a nationwide curfew for minors and liquor ban, increasing the salaries of police officers, improved Internet connectivity, and phasing out labor contractualization.
The Duterte camp plans to conduct consultations with regard to Duterte’s federalism proposal by the middle of his term.
Meanwhile, in reaction to the plan by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to run for Senate president, Cayetano said he would rather speak for himself and not for his colleague. “I will let Sen. Koko speak for himself,” he said.
Pimentel had earlier said a Senate president should act as the Senate chief in a three-year or six-year term.
He was clearly referring to Cayetano leaving the Senate to serve as Duterte’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary one year after his (Cayetano’s) failed bid for the vice presidency.
Cayetano explained that while Duterte has not publicly announced whom he would endorse for the Senate leadership, the President-elect has made it clear in private discussions who he wants for the post.
“The President will not have an official candidate. Pero meron siyang napupusuan (He, however, has his favorite but is not naming him). President Duterte is not declaring public support because he respects the independence of the Senate,” he said.