(Eagle News) — The transition of leadership in the Senate was done in accordance to a term-sharing agreement between the two top senators, former Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and his successor Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
This is the reaction of Senate Committee on Economic Affairs Chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian after senators signed a draft resolution on the Senate change of leadership.
In a radio interview, Gatchalian said the transition of leadership in the Senate will be done accordingly as Pimentel and “Tito” Sotto had a previous term sharing agreement.
Gatchalian said that such term-sharing agreements are not new. This was done even before, he said.
“Ito talaga ay internal dynamic ng isang independent branch. Hindi po ito bago, at hindi po ito ngayon lang nangyari. Ang ganitong collegial body, ibig sabihin yung ganitong maraming miyembro ay napapag-usapan talaga yan na subukan naman natin na yung ibang mga kasama natin na maipakita yung kanilang galing,” Gatchalian said.
The senator also dismissed speculations that many senators were dissatisfied with the performance of Pimentel.
“Si Senator Koko ay isang taong maganda po ang ipinakita sa ating mga senador at ako mismo ay naging saksi sa kaniyang liderato. Maayos at maganda yung kaniyang pakikitungo sa bawat isa. Pagdating naman sa integridad, pagdating sa galing at sa batas, [maayos lahat],” the Senator said.
Last week, 14 members of the 17-member majority bloc signed a resolution asking for reorganization in the chamber and the election of a new senate president.
https://youtu.be/Ga03EcROjkM
