Sotto, Drilon to incoming senators: Study, stay independent

MANILA, Philippines — “Be independent. Study hard and be honest in your work.”

This was the advice given yesterday by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon to incoming senators of the 19th Congress which is shaping up to be strongly allied with presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Sotto, whose term ends on June 30, said some possible successors have sought him for “advice and consultations” for the work of the coming Senate.

“If the floor or the majority leader asks for a ruling to resolve an issue, the Senate president must decide so he must have mastery of the (Senate) rules, have a deep background on the traditions and precedents,” Sotto told Cignal TV’s One Balita Pilipinas in Filipino.

He said the Senate president must always be present in session and assign a presiding officer only if the session is prolonged and there is pending work in the office.

He emphasized that the Senate president must be “independent-minded and not side with just anyone and should also be able to build consensus.”

Sotto has been credited by his colleagues – including those in the opposition – for providing stability and ensuring a productive chamber.

He said among those who consulted him were Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and returning senator Francis Escudero.

Others reportedly in the running for Senate president are Senators Cynthia Villar and Sherwin Gatchalian.

Sotto said others who are qualified to be Senate president are Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Aquilino Pimentel III.

He said it does not mean if there is a “super majority” or an overwhelming number of senators allied with the administration, there would no longer be checks and balances, especially if the Senate president is independent.

“Be critical if necessary, be supportive if it is good for the people and not blindly follow,” Sotto said.

When asked about his advice to incoming senators, he said: “Be diligent. Stick to the rules and be honest in your work.”

“Work even with the pandemic and not hide behind your computers. You ran as senators and the people are expecting us to work. The people gave you their trust so give them their votes’ worth,” Sotto said.

Drilon, who has served as Senate president multiple times, said the new senators must study hard to be able to discharge their duties and serve the people well as he agreed that the leadership must be steeped in the rules.

“They’re only 24 so the whole country is observing them and they’re easy to monitor in contrast to the House (of Representatives) where you can hide in the large number (of congressmen),” Drilon told reporters in an online press conference.

“Election is just a starting point. You have to prove the trust entrusted to you by those people who elected you,” he said, adding that new senators must observe first and learn the traditions that keep the chamber intact.

He recalled that members of the majority bloc under the leadership of Sotto respected the views of the minority.

“Of course there were instances when we had to vote on something, sometimes we lose, sometimes we win. That’s the nature of a collegial body,” Drilon said.

He said eve n with only one or two members, the minority if steadfast enough can overcome the so-called super majority.

“What I can tell you is that there is a rule that a single vote can throw a monkey wrench into a bill,” Drilon said.