Tito Sotto says Zubiri 'best choice' as next Senate President

Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri is the “best choice” to be the Senate President in the incoming 19th Congress, outgoing Senate President Tito Sotto said on Monday.

At a media briefing, Sotto expressed confidence Zubiri would have a very good pulse on how to run the Senate given his experience as a majority leader and his working relationship with previous Senate Presidents including Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Franklin Drilon.

“He was the best choice as far as the members of the majority are concerned, because of his vast experience being a majority also, aside from the fact that na marami siyang experience sa amin, kaming mga naging Senate presidents,” Sotto said.

“So, I expect him to do well,” he added.

Zubiri is poised to become the next Senate leader after Senator Cynthia Villar — who previously expressed interest in the position — dropped out of the race and gave him her support.

With no opposition left, Zubiri has bared who among his colleagues were expected to hold leadership positions in the next Congress.

He said the “Seatmates bloc” was looking to install Senator-elect Loren Legarda as the Senate president pro tempore—the second-highest post in the chamber—and re-elected Senator Joel Villanueva as the next majority leader.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is set to retain his chairmanship of the Committee on Basic Education. He will also chair the Committee on Ways and Means which is currently headed by Senator Pia Cayetano.

Senator Nancy Binay will still chair the tourism committee and was named the next chair of the Committee on Accounts, currently led by outgoing Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Senator Sonny Angara, for his part, will retain his chairmanship of the influential Committee on Finance.

Sotto said Zubiri had offered Senator Francis Tolentino the leadership of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. —NB, GMA News