Tito Sotto, may mga senador raw kumausap sa kanya para maging SP: “If they want me, I will accept”

- Tito Sotto recently confirmed there are ongoing talks between him and some senators for the Senate Presidency

- The senator-elect revealed that several colleagues have approached him, expressing their support for his potential leadership bid in the 20th Congress

- The incoming senator then expressed his willingness to accept the Senate Presidency if he has the support of the majority

- He then indicated his readiness to lead if he secures the backing of at least 13 senators, as required by Senate rules

Senator-elect Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has indicated that discussions are underway regarding a potential bid for the Senate Presidency in the upcoming 20th Congress.

Just days after the recent midterm elections, Sotto confirmed that several of his colleagues have approached him, expressing their support for his leadership.

“Yes, yes. I would be lying if I said no. May mga kumakausap sa akin... Mga tatlo, apat kausap ko. Ganoon lang. And they’re saying that their peers are ready to support me. Sabi ko naman, if we have 13, I will accept,” Sotto stated, acknowledging the ongoing talks.

He mentioned having spoken to about three or four senators, who have assured him of support from their peers.

Sotto, a veteran politician with a long history in the Senate, served as Senate President from May 2018 to June 2022.

When asked about the number of senators currently in his corner, Sotto declined to provide specific figures, stating that any such information would be speculative.

He suggested that the senators themselves should be asked directly about their preferences.

The position of Senate President requires the support of at least 13 out of the 24 senators. According to the Senate rules, the senators elect their leader from among themselves.

While the Senate presidency is typically determined at the start of each Congress, there have been instances of mid-session leadership changes.

The current Senate President, Francis Escudero, has stated that he is “unbothered” by Sotto’s openness to vying for the position.

Escudero assumed the Senate Presidency on May 20, 2024, succeeding Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Prior to this, Escudero served as a senator from 2007 to 2019, and again from 2022 to the present.

Sotto confirmed that he has not yet spoken with Escudero about the Senate leadership, but anticipates that they will need to discuss the matter in due course.

“Oh yeah, surely we will discuss it. We will talk it over for sure, if my colleagues will speak,” Sotto remarked.

The upcoming 20th Congress is expected to see shifts in the Senate’s composition, potentially influencing the dynamics of the leadership selection.

The process for electing the Senate President involves a majority vote by all members.

Tito Sotto, or Vicente "Tito" C. Sotto III, is a well-known personality in Philippine politics, television, and film. He is a former Senate President and served as a member of the Senate of the Philippines from 1992 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2019. He also served as the Senate Majority Leader on several occasions.

Incoming senator Tito Sotto, in January of this year, posted on X against those allegedly spending to destroy others. Sotto strongly denied the news about the "Pepsi Paloma script handed by an intermediary to Vic Sotto’s ‘sibling who is a senator’". He stated that the report is untrue and appears to be part of a campaign to discredit their family. He criticized those who are merely spending to destroy others, suggesting it would reduce their wealth.

Previously, he also denied that he received a copy of the script of the controversial TROPP movie of Darryl Yap. The senate reelectionist sent a Viber message to Inquirer, denying the occurrence of such submission to his camp. He also clarified that the script was forwarded to Viva CEO Vic Del Rosario, and not to him. In a text message to Inquirer, Atty. Raymund Fortun stood pat on the claim that Yap's camp sent a copy to the camp of the Sottos.

Source: KAMI.com.gh