Sotto wants Koko Pimentel to head Ethics committee

Newly-elected Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Thursday he wanted former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III to take over the Senate ethics committee.

Sotto said he has yet to discuss the matter with Pimentel but he said he believes the latter is the most qualified to lead the committee which handles complaints against their colleagues.

“I was thinking he would take over that committee but we have not talked about it yet,” he said during the weekly news forum Kapihan sa Senado.

“He was former Senate President, he has the stature, his work ethics is impeccable,” he added.

Reached for his comments, Pimentel said he is ready to accept any assignment that will be given to him.

“Whatever is assigned to me I will accept in order to help the chamber function more efficiently, workload must be distributed. All senators must contribute what he or she can for this purpose,” Pimentel said in a text message to GMA News Online.

At present, there are three pending complaints before the committee, including the complaints filed by Senators Richard Gordon and Antonio Trillanes IV against each other, and the one filed by former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II against Senator Risa Hontiveros.

As a former Senate President, Pimentel has no committee assigned to him.

Sotto said they have elected Pimentel to head the trade committee and the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Automated Elections System. The former Senate leader will also head the Commission on Appointments subcommittee on environment and natural resources.

The Senate elected Sotto as Senate President Monday following the majority senators signing a resolution seeking reorganization. Before the session, Pimentel already said that he will step down and even signed the resolution. — RSJ, GMA News