Senator-Elect Lacson Backs Senate Presidency Bid
Senator-elect Panfilo “Ping” Lacson announced on Friday his support for fellow senator-elect Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s bid for the Senate presidency in the upcoming 20th Congress. Lacson highlighted Sotto’s proven leadership in the Upper Chamber, noting that Sotto had effectively led the Senate for four and a half years during the Duterte administration.
“For me, it is clear. He is my friend and colleague whose leadership I have experienced. So I think I can reveal and I can be very frank that I will vote for Sen. Sotto,” Lacson said in Filipino during a televised interview.
Lacson also acknowledged the competence of both Sotto and the incumbent Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, noting that both are capable leaders and members of the Nacionalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Alongside Sotto and Escudero, Senator Imee Marcos has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Senate presidency.
Leadership Contenders and Senate Dynamics
At 76, Sotto expressed readiness to take on the Senate presidency if he secures majority support from the senators of the 20th Congress. However, he stated he will not actively campaign for votes.
“If they have the numbers and they want me to be Senate president, then I will accept their decision,” Sotto remarked.
He added, “I told them if we have 13 (senators) then I will accept it.”
Meanwhile, Lacson is preparing for the possibility of serving as a senator-judge should the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte continue into the 20th Congress. The former Philippine National Police chief emphasized that his decisions will be based solely on the evidence presented during the trial.
He also mentioned that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s statement expressing his wish that the Vice President not be impeached will not influence his judgment.
“What I will focus on is the weight of the evidence to be presented by the prosecution and the defense,” Lacson said.
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