Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (Photo from Office of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III)
MANILA, Philippines — “I will resign and shoot myself in Luneta.”
This was what Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he would do if it can be proven that he pressured fellow senators to sign the Senate blue ribbon committee draft report that found President Rodrigo Duterte accountable in the controversy involving Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.
“It’s absolutely false. Una, I have not talked to any senator about the blue ribbon report, I cannot pressure any member of the Senate na mag-sign ng isang committee report na ako mismo ay hindi ko pinipirmahan,” Sotto told reporters in an interview on Tuesday after he paid a courtesy on Mayor Edwin Olivarez in Parañaque City.
“If you can come up with a senator who can prove or say that I pressured him or her to sign any comm report, that particular blue ribbon committee report, which I have not signed, I will resign and shoot myself in Luneta,” the Senate president added.
Earlier, Sotto called on the National Telecommunications Commission to investigate and immediately stop the persistent use of text messaging as a black propaganda tool against personalities or groups.
This, amid circulating text messages alleging that he and reelectionist Senator Richard Gordon pressured their colleagues to sign the Senate blue ribbon committee’s draft partial report on its investigation of the government’s use of pandemic funds.
Sotto, who is running for vice president, said these text messages are meant to taint his reputation and “drive a wedge” between him and Duterte.
“Lumalabas dun parang kinokontra ko si presidente di ba? E alam naman nilang magkaibigan kami ni Presidente [They’re making it seem that I am against the President? They know I am friends with the President,” he said.