SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano was chided by his colleagues over his plan to turn into a “parking slot” the Senate presidency when he reportedly appealed to incumbent Senate President Franklin Drilon to give him the Senate’s highest post after one year.
Informed about the reports that Cayetano had requested Drilon to allot the Senate presidency for him after one year, reelected Senator Vicente Sotto III said there could be a good reason.
“But looking at the other perspective, I heard it would seem that it’s not good for him to make a parking slot for one year the Senate presidency,’’ Sotto told DWIZ radio.
“There are two views here:-it might be wrong, it might be right. It depends on the Senate. I leave it to the majority in the Senate to decide.”
Cayetano, Duterte’s defeated running mate, is barred by law to occupy any government position for one year. He has remained mum over the Cabinet posts of Justice or Foreign Affairs secretary being offered to him by Duterte.
Sotto, Cayetano and Drilon are among the aspirants in the race for the Senate presidency. Senator Aquilino Pimentel III is also eyeing the position.
But political observers believe the vote will be split between Cayetano and Pimentel if they do not decide on who to represent PDP-Laban in the tough battle for the Senate leadership. This might also result in Drilon retaining his position.
Cayetano and Pimentel are staunch allies of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte who needs to control the Senate for his legislative agenda.
Cayetano was Duterte’s defeated running mate in the May 9 elections. Pimentel is the president of PDP-Laban, which is also led by Duterte as its chairman.
Duterte has told Cayetano he is free to choose the Cabinet position he wants.
In an earlier interview, Cayetano said 15 senators had been rallying behind him to become the next Senate president. A resolution was being circulated to get the support of his colleagues. Senator Cynthia Villar, his party mate at the Nacionalista Party and Senator-elect Manny Pacquiao, had signed the resolution. Another Senator-elect, Jose Miguel Zubiri, had also aired his support for Cayetano.
A candidate for Senate president needs 13 votes to wrest the position from Drilon.
