Lacson, Sotto: Senate presidency ‘dangled’ to Legarda

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday revealed that attempts were made to offer the Senate presidency to Senator Loren Legarda.

Lacson, however, described rumors that Legarda had pushed for a change in Senate leadership as “malicious” and “sadistic.”

“After dangling the Senate presidency to her, they are now floating the falsehood that it was Sen. Loren who volunteered to recruit warm bodies to pave the way for a new Senate majority," he said in a post on X.

"It is not only malicious. It is sadistic,” Lacson added.

Senate reporters sought a comment from Legarda, but she hesitated to offer a response.

“Pag-iisipan ko ‘yung tinanong mo kasi nabasa ko ang news,” Legarda told a reporter in an ambush interview.

(I will have to think about your question because I have read the news.)

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, meanwhile, said that the Senate presidency was dangled to Legarda by members of the minority bloc. He said Legarda informed him about the matter the other day. 

“Sinabi niya hindi siya interesado (She said that she’s not interested in the Senate presidency),” Sotto said. 

Nevertheless, Sotto maintained that the 15-member majority bloc remains solid.

“Ang buong majority namin very solid. As a matter of fact, baka mga dalawa, mga isa o dalawa sa ‘di namin kasama dati baka mapasama pa eh,” he added. 

(The majority bloc is very solid. As a matter of fact, maybe one or two minority members may join us.) 

Asked who these two senators from the minority bloc are, he replied: “Secret.”

Sotto on Monday dismissed rumors of a possible leadership change in the chamber.

Rumors of an alleged coup against Sotto’s leadership surfaced on social media over the weekend.

Pro-Duterte

Senator Robin Padilla, on the other hand, said that should there be a leadership change in the Senate, he wants the next leader of the upper chamber to be pro-nation and is supportive of Vice President Sara Duterte.

This, he said, was in consideration of the renewed impeachment complaints that were filed against Duterte. 

“Halimbawa, magkakaroon ako ng pagnanais na magpalit ng leadership, sa usapin ng, halimbawa, impeachment. ‘Pag ‘yun ang pinag-usapan, halimbawa, ‘yung impeachment ni Inday makarating dito, obvious naman,” Padilla said. 

(If there will be a change in leadership, I would support it when it comes to impeachment talks, if ever the complaint against Duterte reaches the Senate.) —MCG/AOL, GMA Integrated News