Sotto vows to step up to standards set by former Senate presidents

“Ni sa panaginip ay hindi sumagi sa aking isipan na ako ay maluklok bilang pangulo ng Senado.”

[Not even in my dreams did it enter my mind that I will be installed as Senate president.]

Thus said newly elected Senate President Vicente “Tito“ Sotto III on Monday in accepting his post.

Sotto was joined by his wife, veteran actress Helen Gamboa, and their children when he took his oath of office.

Thanking his colleagues for their trust, Sotto vowed to continue helping in the passage of laws that would be beneficial to the country.

“I am committed to do my very best and with your help, I am confident that I have in my background the template of nine other Senate presidents that I have served,” he said.

He said he looked up to the standards set by his predecessors – Neptali Gonzales, Ernesto Maceda, Marcelo Fernan, Blas Ople, Franklin Drilon, Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Ed Angara, who recently passed away.

On Monday, Koko Pimentel vacated the post to make way for Sotto’s take over.

Pimentel said the changing of guards at the Senate was “a natural process.”

He maintained that Malacañang had no hand in the change of leadership. /atm