Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III expressed confidence in the majority bloc’s support for his leadership.
In a text message to reporters on Monday, Sotto said he is ‘very confident’ of his colleagues’ backing amid murmurs of another coup d’état attempt.
However, he did not say whether loyalty checks are being conducted among senators.
Sotto’s leadership is backed by 15 senators, but Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has warned that the majority’s slim lead over nine minority members could potentially trigger another coup attempt.
‘That’s what I told the Senate president. I said, ‘We are 15, they are nine, don’t underestimate the nine,’ Lacson said in Filipino at a Kapihan sa Senado then.
Meanwhile, in a separate text message also on Monday, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito-who earlier admitted that the idea of leaving the majority bloc had crossed his mind-dismissed rumors of a renewed attempt to change the Senate leadership.
‘No change in leadership,’ he said.
Sotto assumed the Senate presidency in September after a minority-led ouster against Sen. Francis Escudero succeeded./mcm