Neophyte Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao (right) administers the oath of office of newly-elected Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III during the opening of the Senate session under the 17th Congress on Monday (July 25, 2016) at the Plenary Hall of the Senate Building in Pasay City. Also in photo are immediate members of the Pimentel family, including former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. (center). (MNS photo)
MANILA, July 25 (Mabuhay) — Senator Aquilino Pimentel III is the Senate President of the 17th Congress.
On Monday, 20 senators gave their thumbs up for Pimentel through a nominal voting.
Senator Vicente Sotto III, who earlier expressed willingness to take the top Senate post, nominated Pimentel, saying he humbly gave way to a young and valiant lawmaker.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri then seconded the motion, calling Pimentel as his former bitter rival because of their past issue where the former was forced to resign as senator to give way to the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal.
Senator Francis Escudero, on the other hand, nominated Senator Ralph Recto for Senate President. It was seconded by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Recto got three votes.
Meanwhile, Trillanes said Recto will be the Senate minority leader.
“Senator Recto will be the minority leader. Nag-usap sila ni Chiz, I was informed kagabi. Agree naman kaming tatlo,” he told reporters.
Trillanes said the minority bloc will be a fiscalizer but will not be a hindrance to the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration.
“I believe na kailangan mabantayan yung potensyal na pang-aabuso ng authority so dito lang tayo,” he said.
“But it doesn’t mean na magiging obstructionist tayo because we will cooperate and pass legislations na sa paniniwala natin ay makakabuti sa taumbayan