Senate President Vicente Sotto III is confident that there will be no change in leadership once the chamber’s sessions resume in November.
In a Kapihan sa Senado forum on Wednesday, Sotto was asked if he is confident that he will still be the Senate chief once the chamber opens its second regular session for the 20th Congress.
‘Yes, oo. God willing,’ said Sotto.
This came after Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson admitted that he warned Sotto of a possible change in Senate leadership now that he is poised to return as the chairperson of the powerful blue ribbon panel.
Asked about Lacson’s warning, Sotto simply said: ‘So be it. Ako’y matagal nang takot kaya di na ako tinatablan ng takot.’ (I’ve been afraid for long. They can’t scare me.)
Sotto dodged an alleged coup d’etat before the chamber adjourned its session on October 10.
Prior to this, rumors of an alleged attempt to unseat Sotto circulated in the Senate, but the Senate chief himself denied such rumors.
Even Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who was rumored to replace Sotto, denied plotting an ouster against the present Senate President.
Cayetano said the rumors surrounding an attempt to push for a change in the Senate leadership might be coming from the majority and minority bloc’s respective supporters. /jpv