MANILA, Philippines 鈥� As expected, Senate President听Vicente听 鈥淭ito鈥� Sotto III听retained his post when the Senate opened its first regular session of the听18th Congress on听 Monday.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto temporarily served as the presiding officer to pave the way for the election of the Senate leader.
It was Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who nominated Sotto as Senate president, and was seconded by Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Returning听Senator Pia Cayetano, in behalf of 听 Recto and the Nacionalista Party (NP), also nominated Sotto.
No other听candidate for the post was听nominated, which prompted Recto听to call for a viva voce听voting.
Three opposition senators 鈥� Franklin听Drilon, Francis Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros, abstained.
In nominating Sotto, Zubiri cited the over 400 bills passed into law during the former鈥檚 leadership in the听 17th Congress.
鈥淪en. Sotto鈥檚 legislative career speaks for itself, so I will say that on a more personal level, I believe he is the best man for this job,鈥� Zubiri said.
He also described the Senate leader as a 鈥済reat mentor, generous with his wealth of knowledge and experience.鈥�
鈥淗e is a man of great intellect, but also a man of great humor, knowing just how to break tension, form camaraderie, and keep a productive atmosphere on the floor. He is an accomplished artist with an intimate line of connection to the hearts of the Filipino people,鈥澨� Zubiri said.
鈥淪en. Vicente C. Sotto III is a workhorse, an institution in the Senate, a man of the people. And, I hope you all agree with me, he is the Senate President we need for this Congress,鈥澨齢e added.
After the election,听Sotto immediately took his oath, administered by Lacson.
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Even before the adjournment of the 17th Congress in June, the Senate adopted a resolution, expressing support for Sotto鈥檚 continued leadership in the upper chamber.
The resolution was signed by majority of senators, including three, whose terms have already expired last June 30.
READ:听14 senators sign resolution supporting Sotto as Senate president
Neophyte Senator Imee Marcos鈥櫶齟arlier disclosed that someone had been lobbying听for听 Senator Cynthia Villar 鈥渢o step in.鈥�
鈥淪o sa ngayon, it鈥檚 clearly Senate President听 (Vicente 鈥淭ito鈥�) Sotto although I鈥檝e heard听sabi sina Francis Tolentino daw there鈥檚 some kind of move to push Senator Cynthia鈥︹�澨� Marcos said in an interview听over ABS-CBN听 黑料社 Channel听 on May 30, 2019.
But Villar, wife of former Senate President Manny Villar and president of NP, quickly dismissed such speculations.
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Aside听 from听 Sotto, other officials of听 the Senate also听 retained their posts 鈥� Recto听 as Senate President Pro Tempore, 听 Zubiri as chairman of the Senate committee on rules and听 Senator Franklin Drilon as听 Minority Leader.
Myra Marie D. Villarica and retired MGen Edgardo Rene C. Samonte were also elected听as Senate Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms, respectively. /gsg