PDP-Laban not interested in shaking up Senate leadership —Sotto

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday said senators from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) have no intention to cause chaos on matters regarding Senate leadership.

Interviewed on  Unang Balita, Sotto said he had talked to Senators Manny Pacquiao and Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel on Monday about the issue, adding that he also had a chance to discuss the matter with Senators-elect Pia Cayetano and Imee Marcos.

"'Yung PDP-Laban na grupo wala raw silang interes na guluhin 'yung Senate leadership, 'yun ang term ni Manny... at kausap ko din naman si Senator Cayetano at Imee Marcos, nagtawagan kami at nag-text kami, naintindihan ko ang preference nila. Sabi ko ayusin natin, 'yung grupo ang boboto niyan," he said.

Marcos and neophyte senator Francis Tolentino, a member of PDP-Laban, have been quoted in reports as saying that there was a move to replace Sotto as Senate President.

Sotto also clarified that the issue on Senate leadership was not rooted from the fact that some incoming PDP-Laban senators are eyeing to lead powerful Senate committees.

"Noong umpisa ganoon ang dating sa amin kasi 'yun ang nakakarating sa amin... pero noong kausap ko naman ang grupo ng PDP-Laban, hindi raw totoo," he said.

Sotto maintained that he would let his colleagues decide on who will lead the chamber in the 18th Congress.

"Alam mo naman sa amin ibang klase eh. Ang Senate leadership binibigay ng mga kasama mo, hindi basta nilalakad ng mag-isang senador 'yan," he said.

On Monday, at least 14 senators signed the manifestation expressing support for Sotto to retain his post as Senate President.

Those who signed the manifestation include Senators Pimentel, Pacquiao, Gregorio Honasan II, Panfilo Lacson, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ralph Recto, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, and Joel Villanueva.

Outgoing senators Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero also signed the manifestation. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News