Angara: Still no clear front-runner in race for Senate presidency

Senator Sonny Angara on Sunday said there was still no clear front-runner in the tussle for the Senate presidency in the 17th Congress.

“Sa ngayon wala pa namang may 13 boto na kinakailangan para makuha yung post ng Senate President. I think maraming pag-usuap pa ang mangyayari. Sa ngayon, walang iisang grupo ang mayroong 13 votes,” Angara told radio dzBB.

Angara said those aspiring the Senate presidency will have to form alliances with other senators to get the 13 votes, but Duterte's endorsement would be crucial for an aspirant.

“The way to the senate presidency is through alliances and crossing party lines, pero matindi pa rin ang personal choice ng ating Presidente,” Angara said.

Angara added an endorsement by incoming President Rodigo Duterte would have the edge as majority of the senators are usually willing to help an incoming president.

“Palagay ko makakatulong 'yun. Kung nagsalita siya, pag-iisipan 'yun. Bilang bagong presidente, gusto rin naman ng mga senador, kahit di niya kapartido, ay handa siyang tulungan,” he said.

An aspiring Senate president needs to secure 13 votes to get the post.

Angara said that in case the aspirants would fail to get the needed votes, incumbent Senate President Franklin Drilon will retain the post.

Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, the lone member of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban in the Senate, had said that he is seeking the Senate presidency.

The PDP-Laban is Duterte's political party, but the incoming president has yet to endorse him to the Senate presidency.

Pimentel had said that he is expecting a friendly competition with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, a member of the Nacionalista Party and the running mate of Duterte.

Cayetano's party has forged an alliance with Duterte's political party.

Reelected Sen. Vicenteo Sotto III, meanwhile, said 11 senators will push for his Senate presidency.

Angara said the Liberal Party (LP) currently has six senators in its roster, followed by five independents, four from the United Nationalist Alliance, three from the Nacionalista Party, and one from Duterte's party-- PDP-Laban.

He added that senators-elect Joel Villanueva and Risa Hontiveros ran under the LP ticket, but they are now party members.

Villanueva was the representative of CIBAC party-list before serving as TESDA chief. Hontiveros, meanwhile, was a member of Akbayan party-list. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/ALG, GMA News