Senator Franklin Drilon got a 17-6 vote and elected as the new Senate President for the 16th Congress. The position as the leader of the Upper Chamber is the fourth time for Sen. Drilon.
The election of the Senate President was held today, July 22, before the highly-anticipated fourth State of the Nation Address to be given by President Aquino a few hours from now.
The Iloilo city-born Senator have also served as Senate President during the terms of the previous Presidents aside from holding posts as Cabinet Member during the terms of President Cory Aquino and Pres. Fidel V. Ramos.
During the election of Senate President Franklin Drilon, Sen. Sonny Angara nominated Sen. Drilon for the Senate Presidency together with topnotcher of the last mid-term election Sen. Grace Poe. Senator Binay and Sen. JV Ejercito nomimated former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Sen. Enrile voted for Sen. Drilon while Sen. Drilon voted for Sen. Enrile.
Sen. Ralph Recto was also elected as Senate President Pro Tempore while Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was named Senate Majority Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Rules.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, meanwhile, congratulated Drilon for his election. He was quoted as saying that, “We welcome the election of Sen. Franklin Drilon as Senate President. We are confident that he will be our partner in pursuing the reforms under the Aquino Administration,” he said in a statement.
During today’s Senate Election, only Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who has chronic fatigue syndrome was absent.
