(Eagle News)– Senators are poised to name Tito Sotto as their new leader, after a draft resolution “expressing the sense of the Senate to reorganize its leadership and electing” him as such was signed by 13 senators, or more than half of the 24 lawmakers in the Upper House.
The draft resolution aimed at naming Senate President Koko Pimentel’s successor was signed by Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Chiz Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Gringo Honasan, Ping Lacson, Loren Legarda, Manny Pacquiao, Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar and Migz Zubiri.
Senator Grace Poe was reportedly slated to sign the resolution, which also contained Pimentel’s name.
He, however, did not affix his signature on the document.
In a press conference, Honasan said the idea was to ensure “continuity” in the Senate, given Pimentel’s plans to run again for the Senate seat in the 2019 elections.
Earlier, Pimentel admitted there could be a change in leadership in the Senate, but did not give a date for this.
He reportedly asked Sotto, the Senate Majority Leader, to let him stay as Senate President until October 2018.
Sotto has already expressed his willingness to accept the new role if the majority of senators would entrust it to him.