Pacquiao says Senate ‘happy’ with Sotto’s leadership

MANILA, Philippines — Ruling party Partido Demokratiko Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) will not be fielding a member to try for the Senate presidency in the 18th Congress as senators are already “happy” with the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senator Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday.

As he announced the party’s bet for the House Speakership, Pacquiao said the next Speaker should be from the PDP-Laban in order for the President to have a strong and solid support in Congress.

However, this will not be the case in the Senate, Pacquiao said.

“Iba yung sa Senate, iba ‘yung sa Congress, dahil ang Senate President namin na si Sotto at masaya naman lahat,” Pacquiao told reporters in a video conference in Los Angeles when asked why they would not be pushing for a member of PDP-Laban as Senate President.

“Wala naman nagiging problema sa lahat ng adhikain ng Pangulo para sa bayan at yung mga magagandang panukala para sa bayan ay madaling nai-process at walang nagiging balakid,” he added.

Sotto belongs to the National People’s Coalition’s party.

Pacquiao also noted that in the Senate, party lines do not matter as much.

“Masaya kami sa leadership ni Sotto, hindi partido ang pinag-uusapan doon kundi yung support para sa kabutihan at kaunlaran ng ating bansa,” he said.

The 18th Congress opens on July 22 as President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his annual State of the Nation Address. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)