Sotto as next Senate President? No problem, says Palace

Malacanang is not worried with the looming change in the Senate’s leadership, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday.

Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte respects the decision of the upper chamber to replace Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.

“Nirerespeto naman po namin ang karapatan ng mga senador  na pumili ng kanilang  pinuno. So hindi po naghihimasok ang Presidente at ang Palasyo diyan  sa proseso  ng pagpili  ng bagong Senate President,” Roque told reporters in an interview.

On Thursday, 14 or majority out of 23 senators signed a draft resolution electing Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as the next Senate leader.

READ: 14 senators sign draft resolution electing Sotto as next Senate leader

With his development, Roque believes the close relationship between the Duterte administration and the Senate would not change, citing Sotto as a known ally of the President.

“Ako naman po ay naniniwala at naniniwala po ang Palasyo na kahit sino pong  mahalal na Senate President, at ang balita po ay Sen. Tito Sotto, ay napakalapit din pong kaalyado si Sen. Tito Sotto at wala pong magbabago sa malapit na samahan  at sa kooperasyon  na ngayon po ay mayroon sa panig ng Senado at  ng Malacanang,”he said.  /muf