Senator Sotto's maiden privilege speech (September 28, 1992) - Part 1
The grandson and namesake of Don Vicente Yap Sotto delivered his maiden speech with the topic on illegal drugs. There were only two Senators of the Post-EDSA Congress that championed the war on drugs, the late Ernesto "Boy" Herrera and Vicente Sotto III, presently the Majority Floor Leader. Here is an excerpt of his maiden speech, proverbial and prophetic:
"Mr. President, I rise today on a matter of personal privilege to speak an issue of prime importance to this nation. As this is my maiden attempt to avail of the privilege hour. I would like to pay respects to the memory of the two other Sottos from Cebu who preceded me as Senators, making me the third Sotto to sit in this Chamber, I refer to Filemon Sotto, my granduncle who served as Senator before the Second World War and Vicente Sotto, my grandfather who served as Senator after the Second World War (May 25, 1946-May 28, 1950). They heeded the call of duty then, as I do now, and hope to prove worthy of their legacy of public service. It is therefore with much humility and joy that take my seat as Senator in the service of our people.
"My late grandfather broke into the world of politics and governance through the media, via the journalistic route, having been a publisher, editor and columnist. It may be said that I entered politics through media too, considering my previous involvement in the recording and broadcast industry.
"Four years ago, I was a reluctant candidate for Vice Mayor of Quezon City, I did not need to re-order my lifestyle for I considered myself comfortable where I was. I was practically forced and dragged into politics by well-meaning friends in the Christian community among them Antonio Aquino, Brigido "Jun" Simon, and a colleague in this chamber, Senator Joey Lina. Their kind works and encouragements contributed immensely to my decision to throw my hat into the political arena. I would be in the company of political heavyweights, the likes of Arturo Tolentino, Neptali Gonzales, Ernesto Maceda, Blas Ople, and all my fellow solons whose presence grace this historic hall.
"During those early years when I was Chairman of the Drug Abuse Council in Quezon City, the fight against drug abuse was a continuous uphill battle. At certain times, it was frustrating. Most of the time, it was a lonely crusade….
"What is the present drug abuse situation, Mr. President?
"The picture is gloomy. We need only to read the crime stories carried by our newspapers every day to know the gravity of drug abuse in an indirect yet tragic way. Most of the heinous, brutal and sadistic crimes that jolt us regularly are drug related. By the very nature of these crimes, they can only be committed by people who have lost their minds through these brain-destroying substances and illegal drugs.
"Recent examples of drug-related crimes include the case of the lady U.P. professor who, together with three women, were mercilessly stabbed, mutilated and killed by three workers. I personally interrogated the suspects after their capture and they admitted drinking bottles of cough syrup before proceeding to commit the crime. We have many more cases of crimes, which are too gruesome to be committed by men who are in possession of their faculties." (To be continued)
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