SENATOR Vicente Sotto III has indicated his willingness to serve as Senate President in the upcoming 20th Congress, potentially succeeding incumbent Senator Francis Escudero III. In a virtual press briefing, Sotto confirmed discussions regarding his potential candidacy, stating, “Yes, I would be lying if I said no. People are talking to me.”
While emphasizing a preference for not actively seeking the position, Sotto made it clear he would accept the role if he secured sufficient support. “I am the heir to the oldies; if they have the numbers, I will accept,” he stated confidently.
His extensive experience in the Senate, including a previous term as Senate President, underpins his belief in his qualifications to lead the upper house.
Sotto revealed a lack of recent communication with Escudero, with their last conversation dating back to late 2024. He expressed surprise at reports suggesting Escudero had been in contact with other individuals regarding the Senate presidency.
Should he not be elected Senate President, Sotto intends to seek the chairmanship of the Committee on Ethics, emphasizing the importance of upholding ethical standards within the Senate. “We should be strict with the rules if people want to see a good image of the Senate,” he stressed.
Addressing the outcome of the 2025 midterm elections, Sotto rejected the notion that the results constituted a referendum on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s performance.
“I disagree, it’s not a referendum. There are so many issues that came up suddenly,” he argued, citing various political factors as influencing the election results. While acknowledging the administration’s achievements, he maintained this didn’t necessarily translate to widespread public approval of the President. He further highlighted the complexity of the electoral landscape, describing the alliance of five political groups as a “6-3-2-1” scenario, suggesting a strong coalition despite outward appearances.
