Nancy Binay gives vote of confidence to Sotto

Sen. Nancy Binay. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay gave her vote of confidence to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III at the height of murmurs over a possible change in the Senate leadership when the 18th Congress opens in July.

“I reiterate my support and give my vote of confidence in Senate President Tito Sotto’s leadership,” Binay said in a statement on Friday.

She issued the statement just as a draft resolution, seeking a vote of confidence in Sotto’s leadership, is ready to be routed for signature on Monday.

READ: Vote of confidence reso for Sotto is Pacquiao’s idea — Lacson

“Nakalulungkot lang na our time is being consumed by political persuasions, instead of each one of us committing to support the Senate’s legislative agenda in the coming Congress,” Binay said.

“We are supposed to work together, put some work in the Senate, and push for advocacies that matter to the people–regardless of political affiliations,” she added.

Binay is part of the majority bloc in the Senate and is a known ally of Sotto.

It was Senator-elect Imee Marcos who disclosed about an alleged move to push for Senator Cynthia Villar as the next Senate President.

“I haven’t heard anything except Senate President Tito Sotto, although I’ve heard there’s some lobbying for Cynthia Villar to step in,” Marcos said in a television interview on Thursday.

“So sa ngayon, it’s clearly Senate President (Vicente “Tito”) Sotto although I’ve heard sabi sina (Senator-elect) Francis Tolentino daw there’s some kind of move to push Senator Cynthia…” she said.

Marcos, Tolentino, and Villar are all part of the so-called “HnP (Hugpong ng Pagbabago) bloc” composed of five senators from the ruling PDP- Laban and four from Nacionalista Party.

READ: Imee on Senate presidency: There’s lobbying for Villar to step in