Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III (Photo by JOSEPH VIDAL / Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
Change is coming as early as Monday to the Senate, but with Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III’s “happy blessings.”
Pimentel on Sunday bowed to the will of the majority and expressed readiness to relinquish leadership of the Senate to Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III in Monday’s caucus.
He said he would not request to stay in his post until October, as had been speculated by his colleagues considering that the Senate President would be seeking reelection in 2019.
“I will not ask for anything. The will of the majority must be given effect,” Pimentel said in a text message. “Change will happen with my happy blessings. Change is coming soon,” he added.
Asked for comment about Pimentel’s move, Sotto said the decision was not unexpected.
“Koko is an honorable man. I am not surprised. In fact I will campaign for him in the forthcoming elections,” Sotto said in a text message.
The Senate reorganization is widely expected to take place after a caucus of majority senators on Monday.
A draft resolution has been signed by 15 of the 17 administration senators, with the exception of Sotto and Pimentel, electing Sotto to the presidency of the 23-member upper chamber.