MANILA – Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III resigned as Senate president on Monday. He nominated Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as his replacement.
“I step down knowing that I tried my best to do this. I wish my successor good health and Godspeed,” Pimentel said.
Fifteen of the 23 senators signed a resolution last week moving to make Sotto the next Senate president.
On the same day his colleagues elected Sotto the new Senate president. He took his oath before Sen. Gringo Honasan. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri replaced Sotto as majority leader.
Pimentel, president of the ruling party Partido Demokratikong Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan, said he quit the post “to prepare the party nationwide for participation in the May 2019 polls.”
As Senate president, Pimentel said he focused on achieving the campaign promises of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“May mga hindi tayo nagawa but we focused on the campaign promises of the President,” he said.
“OK na rin basta nakikita ko (the Bangsamoro Basic Law) is moving. Si Sen. Joel Villanueva has long been ready with his ‘endo,’” Pimentel added.
Malacañang had no hand in the Senate leadership change, Pimentel pointed out.
“This is an example of a peaceful and willing transfer of power in the Senate,” he said.
Sotto vowed to pass more laws for the benefit of Filipinos.
“I hereby pledge to continue helping in the passage of laws that will be beneficial to the country and to every Filipino and to continue as well the diligence and dedication of Sen. Koko Pimentel who has been the principal author and sponsor of many landmark laws,” he said in a speech.
Sotto also thanked his fellow senators for trusting him with the chamber’s leadership.
“I am deeply humbled and sincerely grateful to the Almighty God and to my fellow senators who reposed their trust and confidence in me and my capability to lead this august chamber at this critical and challenging time,” he said.
Earlier Sen. Panfilo Lacson disclosed that an apparent conflict involving local members in the ruling party and dissatisfaction among colleagues prompted the Senate leadership change.
Lacson said they also needed a more confrontational leader.
“Ang underlying na kagustuhan namin talaga maging solid ang solidarity ng majority bloc – ’di mabubuwag, ’di mabasag,” he stressed.
Senate needs a leader who can defend the institution from attacks, Lacson said. (With ABS-CBN News/PN)
