MANILA, Philippines— Amid talks of a possible Senate leadership change, Senator Panfilo Lacson has prepared a resolution to find out who are still supporting the current leadership of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
“Nag draft na actually ako actually ng resolution at tama yung sinabi mo, para magkaalaman na sa mga kasamahan namin sino yung alanganin,” Lacson said in an interview over DZMM on Friday.
The draft resolution, he said, is undated and would be routed for signature among senators, including the neophyte members.
“Ngayon of course ito draft resolution ito pwede naman nilang baguhin baguhin ito bago mag July 22 o pagsapit ng opening ng Congress,” Lacson said.
The 17th Congress will adjourn on June 7 while the new Congress opens on July 22.
“Pero at least man lang malaman na natin sino ba sa inyo ang alanganin sa liderato ni SP Sotto dahil pa nag uusap-usap kami we’re one in saying na happy kaming lahat sa liderato nya…” he pointed out.
“So wala kaming rason para palitan yung liderato pero ngayon may isa o dalawag baguhan na papasok na panay ang parinig na mayroong tinutulak na iba e simple lang naman yan…”
“Maghanap kayo ng 11 kasama, kayong dalawa at sa inyo na…Kung wala kayong 13 wag kayong…ganun kasimple e,” Lacson added.
A simple majority of 24 senators is needed to elect a new Senate President.
Lacson did not mention the two he was referring to but it was neophyte Senator Imee Marcos, who earlier mentioned about an alleged move to push for Senator Cynthia Villar as the new Senate President.
Marcos mentioned the name of another neophyte senator, Francis Tolentino.
Marcos, Villar, and Tolentino all ran under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HnP) slate during the last May elections.
But if the so-called HnP bloc fails to get the majority, Lacson warned the membership of the minority bloc might increase and would even up the new majority in the Senate.
At present, there are only four opposition members in the Senate— Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima, who has been detained over drug charges.
“Baka sa halip na lumaki, makakumpleto pa ng 13,” Lacsons aid of the minority bloc, “Sila ngayon ang magiging minorty, ang Hugpong.” (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)