Sotto replaces Escudero as Senate President

MANILA, September 9 ------ Sen. Vicente Sotto III reclaimed the Senate presidency from Sen. Francis Escudero.

Sen. Migz Zubiri nominated Sotto as Escudero's replacement. "As Senate president, he always led with fairness and transparency, and he led with an open ear and decisive hand, ensuring unity and stability in the Senate at all times. Most importantly, he was a traditionalist in the very best sense of the word, consistently upholding the rules and traditions that protected the Senate as the nation's last bastion of democracy," Zubiri said.

Sen. Loren Legarda backed Sotto's nomination. With no objection and no other nominees, Sotto was declared Senate chief. Sotto earlier in the day said he secured the backing of 15 senators for the leadership change. He said he and other senators had issues with the previous Senate leadership, but he was quick to point out that these did not include flood control issues. He added they talked about the change in leadership weeks ago.

Escudero said he “understands and respects” the decision of the majority of my colleagues. “I hold no grudges, I hold no ill feelings,” he said as he congratulated Sotto. Escudero added that under his leadership, the Senate "did not shy away from confronting the difficult questions facing our nation" and "conducted hearings that unearthed corruption on a scale rarely seen before." "I am proud of what the Senate accomplished together and I trust that the spirit of transparency and courage that have been displayed by this chamber will be sustained," he said.

Meanwhile, Sotto said the public was "enraged" with corruption seen in flood control projects, dilapidated classrooms, and the lack of quality farm-to-market roads. "Corruption is now perceived by our people to be in the of government. But with the political will of those in position and the together with the vigilance and clamor from the public, we can fight this and bring transparency and true accountability that our nation deserves," he said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson was named the new Senate President Pro Tempore, while Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri would serve as Senate Majority Leader. “As Senate president, he always led with fairness and transparency, and he led with an open ear and decisive hand, ensuring unity and stability in the Senate at all times. Most importantly, he was a traditionalist in the very best sense of the word, consistently upholding the rules and traditions that protected the Senate as the nation's last bastion of democracy," Zubiri said.

Sotto also announced that Lacson will chair the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, replacing Senator Rodante Marcoleta. In his first speech as the new Senate president, Sotto said he wants to make the Senate more cooperative, but also independent. He added that he intends to continue some of the practices like the live streaming of budget deliberations and bicameral conference committee hearings. “I will do everything in my capacity to ensure that this Senate will remain cooperative, but independent, balanced, transparent, and sincere,” Sotto said.

Asked if Senator Rodante Marcoleta will keep the Blue Ribbon chairmanship and if there are other committee chairmanship changes, Sotto said they will discuss all that in a caucus. He added that they will not touch the archived impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte until the Supreme Court issues a decision on the motion for reconsideration. "We're still waiting for the MR ng Supreme Court, the decision of the Supreme Court sa MR… Walang gagalawin doon until malaman natin ano sinasabi ng Supreme Court," he said.

The realignment of leadership comes as the Senate intensifies its investigation into alleged corruption in flood control projects across the country.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com