Chiz, Tito reached out to discuss Senate presidency, Bong Go confirms

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero and senator-elect Vicente "Tito" Sotto III have separately asked Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go for his support in their respective bids for the Senate leadership in the 20th Congress, Go told reporters on Wednesday.

Go said their group which also includes Duterte-allied senators Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and Robin Padilla, and senator-elect Rodante Marcoleta will vote as a bloc on the Senate presidency.

“Marami pa pong ibang nakikipag-usap din po sa amin, but we are open sa lahat po ng pag-uusap basta ang criteria namin unahin ‘yung interes ng bayan, interes ng bawat Pilipino at independent Senate po ito,” Go said in an interview with reporters.

(Many have been speaking with us, but we are open to all discussions.  Our criteria is to prioritize the interest of the country, of every Filipino, and an independent Senate.)

Asked if both Escudero and Sotto had asked for his support, Go said answered in the affirmative repeatedly. 

 “From our group, yes,” Go said. “Lahat naman po sila initially nakikipag-usap individually or as a group.”

(All of them are initially talking to us individually or as a group.)

GMA News Online has sought comments from both Escudero and Sotto and will publish them as soon as they are available.

"Sometime ago yes. We have to meet again soon," Sotto told GMA Integrated News.

When asked if their bloc will field someone for the Senate president race, Go said any senator had the right to run for Senate President.

On Saturday, senator-elect Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that there are at least 13 incumbent and incoming senators of the 20th Congress who have expressed preference for a Senate president who is “independent, transparent, and competent.”

Lacson, a close political ally of Sotto, said this sentiment was based on individual discussions with majority of 20th Congress senators.

Installing a new Senate president requires 13 votes from the 24-member legislative chamber.

Before this, Sotto disclosed that three to four senators have approached him about his return to the Senate presidency in the 20th Congress. – NB/BAP, GMA Integrated News