Sotto 'very confident' of Senate majority support

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III expressed confidence Monday that he still has the support of majority of senators amid reports that some are planning to leave the majority bloc.

Asked if he will be conducting a loyalty check or if he is confident of the support of the current majority bloc, Sotto replied: "Very confident."

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Senator Erwin Tulfo said he was unaware of any move to oust Sotto as Senate president.

"Hinihintay ko nga over the weekend kung may tatawag sa amin e. Nagtawagan kami ni 'tol (Senator) Raffy, kasi parang buy 1 take 1 'yan e, wala naman ho tinanong ko kay tol Raffy, wala naman ho...wala hong kumausap sa akin so 'yun lang ang pinagbabatayan ko. Hindi katulad dati na may paggalaw, may tawagan po pero ngayon wala naman pong tumawag sa akin," he said. 

(I've been waiting over the weekend for a call. I asked Raffy if he received a call, he said he did not...No one talked to me so that was my basis. Unlike in the past that whenever there is a movement, I will receive a call but now no one called me.)

However, he admitted hearing some senators expressing resentment.

"Though may mga nage-express ng kalungkutan last week ko pa naririnig 'yan sa mga kasamahan ko na bakit naman ganun, bakit puro tayo na lang, bakit wala doon sa Kongreso. Parang nagpaparinig ba pero hindi talaga sa harap nina Senador (Panfilo) Lacson, Senate President Sotto pero nararamdaman mo na medyo masama ang loob na bakit puro tayo lang, saan ba nanggaling 'yan, saan ba nag-umpisa 'yan," he added.

(Although I heard some of my colleagues last week expressing disappointment why only the Senate members were being named, why no one from the House of Representatives. They're saying that but not in front of Lacson or Sotto but you can feel that they were disappointed.)

Asked if he thinks there should be a leadership change, Tulfo said he will listen to the explanation of those who will approach him. 

"Papakinggan ko ang paliwanag kung may lalapit po. Ano bang agenda bakit tayo magpapalit ng administrasyon o liderato? Kailangan ko pong kausapin kung sino 'yung lalapit, kailangan niya pong ilatag pero kung ilalatag niya lang po e, kung sasabihan niya sobra naman ang bunganga ni ganito e parang hindi naman po yata tama," he said.

(I will listen to the explanation if they will approach me. I will ask them what is the agenda behind the leadership or administration change. They need to lay down their arguments but if they will just say that they don't like how a certain person talks, that is not right.)

Last week, Senator JV Ejercito said he was disappointed that the Senate seemed to forget the real culprits of irregularities in flood control projects and that he is thinking of leaving the majority bloc

Over the weekend, Lacson expressed his continued support for Sotto. 

“Kung ako tatanungin, patuloy 'yung support ko sa kanya. Ngayon, kung sa pananaw ng aking mga kasamahan nagkukulang din siya sa leadership, eh lagi naman ganyan sa Senate, kung sino merong majority, kung sino may at least 13 ay pwede tanggalin ang nakaupo at palitan kung sinuman ang merong 13,” the senator told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview on Sunday.

(If you ask me, I continue to support him. Now, if my colleagues believe his leadership is lacking, well that’s how it has always been in the Senate. Whoever has the majority, at least 13 votes, can unseat and replace them with anyone who has the support of 13.)

The Senate has no plenary session this Monday until Thursday to give way to budget hearings.

"Sessions have been suspended since last week till Friday due to conflict with budget hearings which have to stop every 3 p.m. There are no immediate legislation in the agenda other than the GAB (General Appropriations Bill) so we deemed it necessary to give way so we can have our committee meetings," Sotto said in a message to reporters. —AOL, GMA Integrated News