Legarda to talk with Sotto about Senate presidency plans

Senator Loren Legarda said Thursday that she will talk to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, after it was floated that she may sit as the first female chief of the upper chamber. 

Legarda said that she has no idea about the matter and she will ask Sotto about what he meant when he said that there is a plan to elect her as Senate President by 2028 or by the end of the 20th Congress.

“I have no idea. That’s why I don’t like to comment on something that I have no idea of and I was not informed,” Legarda said in an ambush interview. 

“Wala akong ideya. Wala kaming pinag-uusapan pa and don’t worry, tatanong ko sa kanya ang katanungan,” she added. 

(I have no idea. We haven't talked about anything yet and don't worry, I'll ask him about the question.) 

Legarda, however, refused to answer questions if she is open to becoming the next Senate President. 

“I am open to attending the BARMM hearing,” she said.

Legarda also shrugged off a supposed discussion between her and some members of the minority bloc on Wednesday amid rumors of Senate leadership change. 

“People come in and out of session,” she said. 

She also simply smiled when asked if the 15-member majority bloc, which she is a member of, remains solid. 

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Wednesday said the Senate majority bloc foiled an attempt to unseat him. 

Sotto previously said that the Senate presidency was dangled to Legarda by members of the minority bloc, but Legarda supposedly told him that she was not interested in the position

Power sharing?

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, meanwhile, clarified that there was no formal discussion among members of the majority bloc about the supposed power sharing or term sharing between Sotto and Legarda. 

“Nagbibiruan lang kami sa lounge kahapon at nabanggit ‘yung power sharing… Pero wala naman napagkasunduan sa majority caucus,” Pangilinan said. 

(We were just joking about it in the lounge yesterday, and the power sharing was mentioned... But nothing was agreed upon in the majority caucus.) 

Asked about the possibility of Legarda being the first woman Senate chief, he said, “Ang intindi ko ay it was suggested but not finalized dahil nine lang kami sa lounge. But wala akong problema kung mangyari ito.”

(My understanding is that it was suggested but not finalized because there were only nine of us in the lounge yesterday. But I have no problem if this happens.) 

Amid the coup rumors on Wednesday, Pangilinan posted a photo of some members of the majority bloc with the caption “#PowerSharing.” 
When the session resumed, Legarda briefly took the rostrum and sat as the presiding officer. 

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri also addressed Legarda as “madam president” when she presided over the plenary session.

2028 elections 

Zubiri on Thursday also said that Legarda may sit as Senate President after the transfer to the new Senate building by late 2027 or before the 2028 national elections. 

“She was my Senate President Pro Tempore in my first term as Senate President in the 19th Congress. Kaya syempre, alam ko ‘yung capabilities niya (I know her capabilities). She’s very well and able and very qualified to be a future Senate President. Kaya sinabi ko (that’s why I said), future Senate President,” he said. 

“I think it’s an exciting time. Better that way so that the majority remains solid, solidly behind each other,” he added. 

He also said that Legarda already knew about the plan. 

Zubiri said that he is also willing to step down as Senate Majority Leader for Senator JV Ejercito, who is currently the Senate Deputy Majority Leader. 

“That way, we also give an opportunity to the other members of the Senate to hold leadership positions,” he explained. 

He also admitted that there was indeed an agreement that Legarda will be elected as Senate President. 

“We have an agreement that there will be, of course, a change in leadership within the majority members, if we still have the support of all the majority members,” he said. — AOL/VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News