Lacson drafts resolution to know who really are supportive of Sotto as Senate chief

Senator Panfilo Lacson said Friday he drafted a resolution expressing support for Senate President Vicente Sotto III, amid reports that there were moves to replace him as the top Senate leader in the 18th Congress.

Lacson said the idea was originally proposed by Senator Manny Pacquiao and the two of them will route it.

“The resolution to be routed is about a vote of confidence in the leadership of SP (Senate President) Sotto,” he said.

He said this is amid the reported insinuations made by Senators-elect Imee Marcos and Francis Tolentino for a leadership change “for whatever motives they have - whether it’s posturing to get their desired committee chairmanships or serious attempts to elect a new senate leader.”

“It is quite simple though. All the two incoming members of the Senate have to do is convince  11 more senators of the incoming 18th Congress to side with them and their wish is automatically gathered,” he said.

Lacson said the resolution we will based on the expression of support to the leadership of Sotto either through media or among themselves.

“A sufficient number to compose the majority is there, unless what we are hearing is lip service,” he said.

He said they wanted to know who are the real supporters of Sotto.

“Hindi para sigaruduhin kundi para magkaalaman na this early kung totoo yung sinasabi naming lahat na suportado namin ang liderato niya. Kung hindi, magkaalaman na rin kami kung sino ang alanganin na sumuporta,” he said.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said that at least 12 senators support Sotto, including himself, Senators Richard Gordon, Senate Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Joel Villanueva, Ping Lacson, Grace Poe, and Lito Lapid.

Marcos said Thursday there was a move to install Villar as the next Senate president but the latter has already denied it. Both Marcos and Villar are members of the Nacionalista Party.

Sotto has said that incoming senators wanted committees that are being chaired by incumbent Senate members. He said they are now discussing it as the incumbents have the right to keep their panels under the tradition of the equity of the incumbent. — RSJ, GMA News