Senator Vicente Sotto III has been elected as the new Senate President a few weeks before the 2nd Regular Session of Congress closes in July.
Sotto, who had been serving as Senate Majority Leader since the start of the 17th Congress in July 25, 2016, will be replacing former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.
Sotto was unanimously elected by his colleagues upon nomination by Pimentel, who called the former an institution in the Senate, having served the Upper Chamber for the last 20 years.
“He has seen legislative work from all possible angles. He has been there and done that in his long career in the Senate. He has always held leadership positions. I am lucky that this person had volunteered to help me as my majority leader,” Pimentel said in his nomination speech.
“I witnessed his professionalism. He was always present, always on time, always prepared. That showed the dedication of this man to his work and also to our institution. I felt his sincerity as a friend and as a colleague. I believe in this good man and his abilities,” Pimentel added.
For his part, Sotto thanked his colleagues for their confidence and trust in his capability to lead the Senate.
“I hereby pledge to continue in helping the passage of laws that will be beneficial to the country and to every Filipino and to continue as well the diligence and continuation of koko Pimentel who has been the principal author and sponsor of many laws,” Sotto said.
“I am committed to do the very best and with your help I am confident that I have in my background the template of nine other senate presidents that I have served,” he added.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri was also elected as the new Senate Majority Leader in replacement of Sotto. Zubiri vowed to “burn the midnight oil and to work long hours to pass legislation that will help uplift the lives of the Filipinos.”
An award-winning actor, athlete and local official before serving in the Senate, Sotto was first elected to the Upper Chamber in 1992. He won his latest term when he placed 3rd in the 2016 senatorial elections.
Sotto is the third in his family to become a senator of the Republic – his grand uncle, Senator Filemon Sotto, served from 1916-1922, and grandfather Senator Vicente Yap Sotto, served from 1946-1953.
Comments
Post a Comment