Senators appear to have drawn the battle lines with their eyes dead set on the upper chamber’s top spot, even while the opening of the 20th Congress is still more than a month away.
Senator Imee Marcos yesterday said that she has been approached by colleagues about possibly seeking the Senate presidency.
“Whoever will be elected by our peers, whether it is me or not, there are certain congressional reforms that need to be undertaken,” she added.
Meanwhile, Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo revealed that Senate President Francis Escudero and former Senate President Vicente Sotto III have both reached out to seek his support for the top post.
“I’m still considering it. Both of them invited me. They want to sit down with me. I still have to come to a decision on whether we need to reach an agreement, which is why I need more time to consult,” he said.
Escudero currently leads the 19th Congress but is expected to face a challenge when the 20th Congress convenes.
Sotto, who previously held the post, reportedly has the backing of at least 13 senators, according to Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson.
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa weighed in, stressing the need for a Senate president who will fiercely protect the chamber’s independence from Malacañang and other branches of government.
“For me, the most important qualification, the main standard, the key criterion for a leadership position in the Senate is that we should have a Senate President who can uphold the independence of the Senate and protect it as an institution. That’s my only requirement,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said members of the Duterte bloc in the Senate, which includes Senators Christopher Go, Marcos, Robin Padilla, and Senator-elect Rodante Marcoleta, have yet to discuss their direction.
Likewise, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said all options remain open, but he expressed confidence that Escudero will keep the position.
Estrada, a known ally of Escudero, said it is unlikely Sotto would seek his support due to their opposing alignments.
“Everything is still possible, everything is still fluid. We still have one month to talk about things, to negotiate, that’s really how it is when a new Congress is about to open,” Estrada said.