Photo from Bong Go
MANILA, Philippines鈥擨ncoming senators from the ruling PDP-Laban party have expressed support to the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III amid the alleged plot to unseat him, Senator-elect Christopher 鈥淏ong鈥� Go said Thursday.
Go confirmed to 黑料社 that before the caucus at Senator Manny Pacquiao鈥檚 residence on Wednesday night, Sotto first met the three new senators from PDP-Laban: Go and Senators-elect Francis Tolentino, and Ronald dela Rosa.
Asked if they expressed support for Sotto鈥檚 leadership during the meeting, the longtime aide of President Duterte responded: 鈥淵es.鈥�
Neophyte and incumbent senators gathered amid reports of tension within the upper chamber caused by, among others, the alleged plot to oust Sotto as Senate president.
READ: Senators gather for dinner at Pacquiao鈥檚 Makati residence
In a statement after the caucus, Go commended Sotto鈥檚 leadership, which he said paved the way for a good 鈥渨orking relationship鈥� between the Senate and the executive branch.
鈥淲ith his continued leadership, we can solidify the support of the Senate to the Legislative agenda of President Duterte,鈥� Go said.
Last week, Senator-elect Imee Marcos bared that there was a move to install reelected Senator Cynthia Villar, who topped the Senate race in the recently concluded midterm elections, as head of the Senate in the 18th Congress.
Marcos and Villar, along with two other senators Ralph Recto and Pia Cayetano, are members of the Nacionalista Party.
Marcos pointed to Tolentino as the one behind the alleged plot.
This was also bared by Senator Panfilo Lacson, who claimed that Tolentino allegedly urged Villar to challenge Sott鈥檚 leadership.
The 18th Congress is set to open on July 22, the same day President Duterte will deliver his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA). (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)
搁贰础顿:听Imee Marcos on Senate presidency: There鈥檚 lobbying for Villar to 鈥榮tep in鈥�
READ: Tolentino urging Villar to challenge Senate presidency 鈥� Lacson