14 senators sign manifestation of support for Senate President Sotto

At least 14 senators signed on Monday the manifestation expressing support for the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Senator Manny Pacquiao earlier said four senators have affixed their signatures on the manifesto including himself, Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Gregorio Honasan II, and Panfilo Lacson, author of the resolution.

Pacquiao and Pimentel are both members of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan. On the other hand, Honasan is bowing out of the Senate.

Minutes later, Pacquiao showed to reporters the resolution and the 11 signatures.

During the session, Pacquiao presented to Sotto the document and said the number who signed reached 13, including outgoing Senators Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero.

Others who signed are Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, and Joel Villanueva.

Pacquiao said Senator Richard Gordon, who was not present at the session, called him to say that he is also supportive of Sotto.

“Bale 14 na ang pumirma. Humabol si Senator Gordon. Tumawag siya sabi niya i-pirma mo na lang ako that’s why nagmanifest ako sa floor na kasama siya,” he told reporters at the sideline of the session.

He said other senators who are supportive of Sotto have yet to sign the resolution.

At least 13 of the 24 senators are needed for Sotto to keep the Senate presidency when the 18th Congress starts in July.

‘Awkward’

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked why the need for a manifestion as he said that the minority bloc is supportive of the legislative agenda.

“What is this manifestation? is there a motion to unseat the Senate President?” he asked, to which Pacquiao replied that it was just a manifestation expressing support.

“We have not heard any motion declaring the position of the Senate President vacant, so we find this manifestation awkward,” Drilon added.

Zubiri said it was just a simple manifestation of support.

Sotto then thanked Pacquiao for the manifestation, Zubiri for the clarification, and his colleagues for their support.?

“Thank you for your support. I am indebted,” he said.

Lacson drafted the resolution following reports that there were moves to replace Sotto as the top Senate leader in the 18th Congress.

The insinuations were reportedly made by Senators-elect Imee Marcos, a Nacionalista Party member, and Francis Tolentino, a PDP-Laban member, who, Lacson previously speculated, were either posturing to get their desired committee chairmanships or having serious attempts to elect a new Senate leader. — RSJ, GMA News