Senate President Chiz Escudero (left) and former Senate president and Senator-elect Tito Sotto. (Photos from Senate SMU/Lacson-Sotto Media Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Should Senate President Chiz Escudero and incoming Sen. Tito Sotto come up with a 鈥済entleman鈥檚 agreement鈥� and just share terms as Senate president in the 20th Congress?
Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito was asked this question at the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday amid rumors that both Escudero and Sotto are eyeing the top seat in the Senate for the next Congress.
Ejercito, who came from the Nationalist People鈥檚 Coalition along with Escudero and Sotto, admitted that he is torn in terms of choosing who will lead the chamber beginning July.
鈥淔irst and foremost, who will be better and good for the institution? There are so many challenges. There are problems [and] the country has so many problems,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e are in challenging times. I guess I will choose a leader who will be able to stir the Senate during these turbulent and challenging times,鈥� he noted.
However, later in the forum, Ejercito agreed that it will be better if the two senators can discuss the matter among themselves and reach an agreement regarding the post.
鈥淚t鈥檚 up to them. It will be better if there鈥檚 no quarrel. It will be better if we worked together, especially if we鈥檙e in one party. Ideally, it will be better if we don鈥檛 scatter,鈥� Ejercito told reporters.
The Duterte bloc 鈥� comprising members such as Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� dela Rosa and Sen. Bong Go 鈥� earlier confirmed that Escudero and Sotto have reached out to them for support./apl