Cayetano told: Senate presidency no ‘parking slot’

Sen. Vicente Sotto III slammed majority leader Alan Cayetano over the weekend for his plans to use the Senate as a “parking area” while gunning for the Senate presidency before getting a Cabinet portfolio in the Duterte administration.

He echoed the concerns of his colleagues as they weigh the chances of Cayetano over his ambition to replace current Senate President Franklin Drilon.

“I have heard that it is not so good to make the Senate presidency a parking slot for one year,” Sotto said in Filipino.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte might appoint Cayetano as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs after his running mate completes his Senate term in 2019, or even as soon as next year when the ban on losing candidates to appointive posts ends.

Sotto, who is also being eyed to become Senate president, said he would leave it to his colleagues to decide as he dismissed Cayetano’s claim of gaining the support of the majority to lead the chamber as a mere press release.

“It’s good to be confident. Kanya kanyang press release yan,” Sotto said, adding that he has the support of 18 senators.

He also said that it might be best to wait until July 25 when things get clearer.

Sotto, who boasts of being the most senior in terms of being elected ahead of the new batch of 24 senators, added that he would provide a “consensus leadership.”

“They can expect cooperation from our end and what we call consensus leadership. Based on my experience as majority and minority leader, what my colleagues abhor the most is making unilateral decisions. That’s why that is what I would promote – consensus leadership.