Tito Sotto says 3 or 4 senators talked to him about Senate presidency

Three to four senators have approached presumptive senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III about his return to the Senate presidency in the 20th Congress, the former Senate President told reporters on Friday.

Asked if there were senators who have talked to him about the Senate presidency, Sotto said, "I would be lying if I were to say no."

"I’m not the type that would go around... If they have the numbers, I will accept,” Sotto told reporters. 

“Three or four... And they are saying their peers are ready to support me," he added.

Sotto said he would talk to the sitting Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero about the position. They are party mates in the Nationalist People's Coalition.

“The last time we talked was the last quarter of 2024. We never discussed this,” Sotto said.

Should he fail to get the Senate’s top spot, Sotto said he would ask for the chairmanship of the Senate committee on ethics. 

At a news forum at the Senate on Thursday, Escudero said he remains the top leader of the chamber until the next Congress unless he is replaced by the majority.

The decision to either retain Escudero or replace him with Sotto as Senate president may only be done when the 20th Congress opens its session in July. –NB, GMA Integrated News