Lacson reveals alleged resolution from majority bloc to oust Sotto as Senate chief
July 27, 2021 05:02 PM
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III's running mate, Senator Panfilo Lacson, revealed that there was a futile attempt to replace Sotto as Senate leader within the chamber.
“I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues. Therefore, I don’t really pay much attention to it. Because if ever they would want a new leadership or a new leader they will tell me about it."
Senate President Vicente Sotto III told Senator Panfilo Lacson that he heard from his employee there was a rumored resolution passed around the upper chamber in an attempt to oust him from his position as Senate chief.
“I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues. Therefore, I don’t really pay much attention to it. Because if ever they would want a new leadership or a new leader they will tell me about it, whoever is behind it,” Sotto told interviewers following the Senate's return to its third regular session for the 18th Congress.
The news came after Sotto publicly declared his plans to run for vice president in the upcoming 2022 elections.
Lacson, meanwhile, told reporters, “Sabi sa akin ni [Senate President], ‘Partner, may tinawag sa akin na yung staff ko na may kinakalat daw na resolution dahil kesyo tatakbo akong vice president, kailangan palitan na raw ako.'"
(The Senate President told me, "Partner, my staff called to tell me there was a resolution going around saying I should be replaced since I'm running for vice president")
Lacson, however, said that the plan never pushed through.
“Merong gumagalaw dyan sa mga kasamahan namin na gusto siyang palitan. Ayun nga, gusto magpaikot para sa signature na resolution. Siguro draft resolution o signature campaign. Tinitignan siguro kung aabot ng 13 kasi 13 to oust e diba? Kami naman, medyo nagbilang bilang rin kami. Mukhang mahihirapan naman makakuha ng 13 signatures. Mukhang nag-fizzle out na,” he added.
(There are people in our chamber who want to replace him. They aimed to pass around a resolution, looking for signatures. Maybe it was only a draft resolution or signature campaign. They're probably looking to see if they can get 13 participants, since you need 13 people to oust him, right? We also counted, and it looks like they will have a hard time getting 13 signatures. Perhaps the plan fizzled out already)
Sotto responded to the rumored resolution, “If there are 13 members of the Senate who wish to have a different leader, they can do that anytime. They’re more than welcome. Kaya OK lang sakin yun, ‘di ako nagaalala doon (That's okay with me. I'm not worried about it)."
Lacson also said that the resolution allegedly began with a member of the Senate's majority bloc, however, he refused to name the senator.
“Alam naman nila kung sino yun. Kung sino yung nag-initiate, bahala na lang sila. Kung kaya nila yung numero, nasa demokrasya tayo, maski nasa loob ng Senado, makakuha sila ng 13 na numero, edi bababa si Senate President."
(We don't need to name them. They already know who they are. Whoever initiated it, let them do what they want. If they can gather the numbers, we're in a democracy anyway, even in the Senate. If they get 13 senators to sign, then the Senate President will step down)
Lacson and Sotto have recently stated their intent to run as a tandem for both president and vice president, respectively, in next year's national elections.
