By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
There will be a new Senate president possibly within the year, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Thursday, May 3.
In a press conference at the weekly Kapihan sa Senado, Lacson said Senate President Koko Pimentel would eventually replace Senate President Koko Pimentel, who has already said he was to make preparations for his Senate run in the 2019 elections.
“I understand that there’s already an agreement or understanding between Senator Sotto and Senator Pimentel,” Lacson said.
According to Lacson it was unclear when exactly, however, this would take place.
He said, however, that this could be in July or in October, after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address.
“(But) knowing Senate President Pimentel, hindi naman siya magbabago sa ganung klaseng usapan,” he said.
In a text message, Pimentel said that while there was “no agreement” still, he would talk to Sotto “immediately upon arrival then hold a majority caucus.”
According to Lacson, should this happen, all chairmanships in the Senate would be automatically declared vacant, unless there would be an agreement they would no longer be changed.
“Yung Senate leadership or any leadership is only as good as the people supporting that leadership. Of course siya ang baton, siya ang conductor,” Lacson explained.
Sotto has said he was open to assuming the Senate presidency, if it was offered to him.