Sotto to replace Koko as Senate chief?

MANILA, Philippines — Will there be a change in Senate leadership by the end of the year?

Contradictory statements came out yesterday when Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III would replace Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

Lacson, a member of the Senate majority, said Sotto and Pimentel had reached an agreement on the chamber’s leadership.

“This is not being discussed at the moment. But I understand that Senators Sotto and Pimentel had reached an agreement. As to when this would be implemented, we do not know,” Lacson said.

Pimentel and Sotto, however, denied such agreement.

In a text message to reporters, Pimentel said no deal has been reached. But he said he would talk to Sotto when he returns from Austria and Slovenia.

After his meeting with Sotto, Pimentel said he would call for a caucus among the members of the majority bloc to discuss the issue.

Sotto previously said he and Pimentel had an informal discussion about the Senate leadership once the Senate president files his certificate of candidacy for reelection in the 2019 midterm polls.

Sotto clarified yesterday that there was no direct agreement between him and Pimentel.

“No two senators can decide on any position of leadership. It is a consensus among majority of the members,” he said.

Hours after issuing his statement on the Senate leadership, Lacson said on Twitter, “An apology is in order and is therefore offered to SP Pimentel.”

 Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito said it was inevitable for Pimentel to step down as Senate president once he files his certificate of candidacy for reelection in October because he would have to prepare for his campaign.