Sotto remains as Senate president

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III remained as leader of the chamber in the 18th Congress after a smooth election where he obtained the support of new and returning senators.

Sotto was reinstated as Senate president via viva voce voting yesterday after no other candidate for the post was nominated during the opening session presided over by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and attended by 22 senators.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, in his nomination speech, described Sotto as one of the most esteemed statesmen today who has had a long and accomplished legislative career that has been marked by numerous elections as both minority and majority leader, prior to his Senate presidency.

Recto also nominated Sotto for his retention, saying the latter was better in writing laws than in writing songs. He is better putting ideas into policies than words into music.

“On his own, he has authored laws too many to count, on every issue that matters,” Recto said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson seconded the nomination.

In his acceptance speech, Sotto said “to be elected by those so elected, as you did to me, is so much more humbling than a greater source of pride.”

“You have gifted me the honor of being your Senate president,” Sotto said, stressing that the context of the position is different from what is usually understood.

“I did not become your superior; I am simply a presider of your sessions. Any concept other than this is misplaced and unwarranted. Additionally, I am your listener, your adviser if you so desire, your enabler for anything within my power to do so,” he said.

Recto and Zubiri were also re-elected to their current posts, while Sen. Francis Pangilinan nominated Sen. Franklin Drilon as Senate minority leader, a post he held in the 17th Congress.

As minority leader, Drilon leads the four-member opposition bloc that also includes Sen. Risa Hontiveros and detained Sen. Leila de Lima. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe