Term-sharing joke now concrete plan for 1st female Senate chief
What started out as a joke among the majority bloc is now turning into a concrete plan to have Senator Loren Legarda installed as the first female Senate President, but only after the 2027 budget is approved or before her term ends in 2028.
Legarda, however, said she has not had such a discussion with Senate President Tito Sotto, who survived an attempt to boot him out as leader of the Upper Chamber this week.
“We have not discussed it yet, and don’t worry, I will raise your question with him,” Legarda told reporters.
But Zubiri said Legarda was present during the discussion at the Senate lounge that was also attended by Sotto, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, and Senators JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Kiko Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Bam Aquino.
“She was there when we talked about it,” Zubiri said.
I don’t think it’s a joke. I think we mean it and I think the members of the majority who were there did not object. There was no resistance,” he added.
Sotto clarified it is not a term-sharing agreement.
“It’s not exactly term-sharing… since they want to have the first woman Senate President, we might as well go ahead and do it,” Sotto said.
“We plan to elect her as the first woman Senate president after the 2027 budget—in other words, in 2028, before her term ends. That’s the plan.”
“Zubiri said, ‘Even if it’s just the last two or three months of your term.’ I said, ‘sure, why not?’” Sotto added.
Zubiri said the timing being discussed is after the Senate’s transfer to the New Senate Building, which he described as a legacy project of Sotto and Lacson.
“We’re looking at possibly after the transfer to the New Senate Building… by late 2027… After which, of course, before the 2028 elections, Senator Loren Legarda could sit as Senate President,” he said.
