Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Sunday, Oct. 5, that he continues to support the leadership of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, reaffirming his confidence despite recent controversies.
Lacson emphasized his backing after being asked whether Sotto’s leadership remains stable, even as former and incumbent senators were implicated in the ongoing investigation into the flood control mess.
“If you will ask me, I’ve already experienced his being a Senate president for the longest time in the past Congress. His system of management is good; he has good leadership,” Lacson said.
“He always goes for consensus. He doesn’t dictate and he doesn’t make decisions alone. So if you’ll ask me, I’ll continue to support him,” added the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair.
But if his colleagues in the Senate thinks otherwise, and believes that Sotto lacks leadership skills, then they can push for another Senate leadership change.
“That’s how it goes in the Senate. Whoever has the majority, whoever has at least 13… whoever is sitting can be replaced by whoever has at least 13 (votes),” Lacson pointed out.
Lacson’s statement came following Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito’s recent pronouncement that he, and four other senators, are planning to leave the majority bloc after several former and incumbent senators were dragged into the Senate blue ribbon panel’s investigation into the anomalous flood control projects.
However, some senators, like Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, believe that Sotto’s leadership is “very stable.” (Hannah Torregoza)
