Sotto new Senate President
The Senate has elected Majority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III as the new Senate president.
Sotto took his oath Monday to replace Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III after 16 senators, including the latter, signed a resolution seeking reorganization of the chamber. Present during the oathtaking were Sotto's wife, Helen Gamboa, and children.
It was Pimentel who nominated Sotto for Senate president. He said Sotto was the fittest for the post as he usually solved issues among senators whenever there was an impasse on the floor.
Pimentel said senators also consulted Sotto whenever they needed guidance on how to proceed in the Senate legislative mill. He also said that Sotto is an institution in the Senate, in the music industry, in sports, and in his own political party. “My nominee is always on time and always prepared,” Pimentel said.
Minority Leader Franklin Drilon did not oppose the nomination but did not nominate anyone from their bloc. The minority senators abstained.
Pimentel stepped down yesterday as the head of the chamber following the signing of a resolution by 15 senators seeking the reorganization of the Senate and electing Sotto as Senate president.
Among those who signed the resolution were Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Francis Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan II, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Manny Pacquiao, Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Grace Poe.
The resolution cited Section 16, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution which mandates the Senate to elect its president through a majority vote of all its members.
“By a majority vote of all the senators, Senator Vicente C. Sotto III is hereby elected as the new Senate president to discharge the duties and powers granted to him by the Rules of the Senate,” it stated.
“Now therefore, be it resolved, as it hereby resolved by a majority vote of all the senators, to express its sense to reorganize its leadership and hereby electing Senator Vicente C. Sotto as the new Senate president,” it added.
Pimentel, in a press conference, stated: "I am together with my colleagues in the Senate majority in this reorganization." He said he is grateful for the support of his colleagues as all of them played significant roles in the crafting and passage of landmark legislation.
“It has been an honor and a privilege for me to serve the Senate as its president, a position once held by my father,” he said, adding during his term, he tried to emulate his father whom he said served the Senate with dignity.
He wished Sotto the best and vowed to help the new leadership pass pro-people legislation consistent with the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Pimentel said since the cause of federalism needs help, he will go around the country — on his personal time — to explain to the people what it is all about and how the country will benefit from it. He added as president of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), he will prepare the party for its participation in the 2019 elections.
He said also he has no preference on what committee to lead and he will let the new Senate leaders decide on it. “I am not going to ask for anything. Sasabihin ko kay Senator Sotto na bahala na siya. I think we are flexible enough to handle any committee given to us.”
ABS-CBN News report said Sotto took his oath before Senator Gringo Honasan. In his speech, Sotto vowed to pass more laws for the benefit of Filipinos.
"I hereby pledge to continue helping in the passage of laws that will be beneficial to the country and to every Filipino and to continue as well the diligence and dedication of Sen. Koko Pimentel who has been the principal author and sponsor of many landmark laws," Sotto said.
He also thanked his fellow senators for trusting him with the chamber's leadership. "I am deeply humbled and sincerely grateful to the Almighty God and to my fellow senators who reposed their trust and confidence in me and my capability to lead this august chamber at this critical and challenging time," he said.
Senator Miguel Zubiri meanwhile replaces Sotto as majority leader. He is also the new chairman of the Senate committee on rules.