STATEMENT ABOUT THE CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP IN THE PHILIPPINE SENATE

I laud the courage of Senate President Aquilino Martin DL. Pimentel, III to tender his resignation to pave the way in nominating and eventually electing Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto, III as the new leader of the Senate.

Senator Pimentel assumed as the President of the Senate when President Rodrigo Duterte occupied the Malacanang Palace in 2016. He followed the footsteps of his father and former Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.

But given the recent attacks thrown to the institution by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his party mate, Pantaleon Alvarez, his fellow senators felt that the Senate has been neglected and Pimentel hasn't protected it as a co-equal chamber of Congress.

A few weeks earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson revealed to the media that Senate President Pimentel agreed that Senator Sotto will succeed him as the next leader of the Senate. A Senate Resolution signed by the majority of the senators also leaked in the media showing the authenticity of Senator Lacson's statements.

The Senate Resolution electing Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto, III as the new Senate President. Photo from inquirer.net.

When the Senate session was called into order, Senate President Pimentel announced his resignation from the post and even nominated Senator Sotto to succeed him. With the concurrence of the majority of the senators, the longest serving member of the Senate has been chosen as the next Senate leader. Upon assumption of office, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also assumed as the Senate Majority Leader after vacancy following Sotto's election.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto, III shakes the hand of resigned Senate President Aquilino Martin DL. Pimentel, III after the former has been elected as the new Senate President. Photo obtained from Senate website.

Senator Gregorio Honasan, II administered the oath of office of Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto, III as the new Senate President. Photo downloaded from Senator Honasan's Facebook page.

Though Pimentel has been too soft in dealing issues hitting the Senate as an institution, I knew for a thing that he served the upper chamber of Congress to the best that he can do. He never issued any statement that would degrade or ruin the integrity of the Senate. In all of his talks and interviews, he only stick to what is right even if it doesn't reflect the Palace's decision (as in the case of the quo warranto petition against CJ Sereno). He dealt with everything as what he thought is the right one as a leader.

I hope that with the new leadership in the Senate, it can withstand the obstacles that it will face once more as an institution and face the Filipino nation proud of its achievements for the next generations to come.

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto, III. Photo courtesy of Senate of the Philippines Facebook page.