LLANERA, Nueva Ecija – Senator Cynthia Villar of Nacionalista Party confirmed on Monday that senators have agreed to elect Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as replacement of incumbent Sen. President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who is expected to step down to focus on his reelection bid in 2019.
But Villar, who graced the Banuar A Mannalo (Bayaning Magsasaka) Festival in connection with this town’s 63rd founding anniversary, denied chaos in the Senate.
“Wala namang problema sa’min yun so hindi naman gulo yon (It is not a problem with us, so it is not a mess ),” Villar said in a media interview.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson earlier said Sotto will replace Pimentel within the year, citing a supposed agreement between the two.
The change in Senate leadership, Lacson said, may happen in June or July, or at the latest October.
Villar cited Pimentel’s expected reelection bid as the reason behind the move. (Marilyn Galang/PNA)
