Tito Sotto says this Senate term may be his last

Senator Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III — File photo

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday said this may be his final term as senator, noting his age and expressing his intention to “impart” the knowledge he has gained to newer senators.

Sotto made the pronouncement after he took his oath as senator of the 20th Congress at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila.

READ: Tito Sotto takes oath as senator

Sotto chose to take his oath at the National Museum, a significant location where he first served as senator and which housed the Senate until 1997.

He even took his oath before Commission on Elections Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr., the son of former Senate president Ernie Maceda Sr., whom Sotto regarded as his close mentor.

“I took the oath with Commissioner Maceda and this historic place … [this] will probably be my last term considering my age,” said Sotto in a chance interview with reporters.

“And I’m also starting to feel a bit tired — by 2031, I might not have the drive anymore — so I thought it’s best to do this where I first started,” he added.

Sotto said that in his fifth term as senator, he intends to share all his experiences and knowledge to his colleagues, especially the newer and younger senators.

“I’ll be able to share with the new and younger senators not just my experience, but also things that will be beneficial to our country and our fellow Filipinos,” said Sotto.

“Those are the things I will definitely focus on in the next six years,” he added.

Among the bills Sotto said he intends to push as soon as possible are the Freedom of Information Bill and a measure institutionalizing a 14th month pay.