Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito Speaks on Senate Presidency
JV EJERCITO – The Senator admitted that he had a tough time deciding on who to support for the Senate presidency but he will not abandon Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero.
With the opening of the 20th Congress, there are questions and speculations about the next Senate president. The sitting chief of the chamber, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, previously confirmed that he is open to be the Senate president again.
A former Senate president who is making his comeback to the upper chamber this 20th Congress, incoming Sen. Tito Sotto, claimed that there are people who assured him of their support for him in the Senate presidency. According to him, if he has the numbers, he is willing to lead the chamber again.
Sotto was the president of the Senate during the 18th Congress. With his and Escudero’s name on talks about the Senate presidency, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito admitted that it is a tough matter to decide on.
Sen. JV Ejercito previously expressed his gratitude to former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto. According to him, it was during Sotto’s term as Senate president when he was able to pass the Universal Healthcare Law and the creation of the Department of Human Settlements.
With regards to Senate Pres. Escudero, the Senate Deputy Majority Leader is grateful to him for his trust. According to him, he was also able to pass several priority measures under the current leadership of the Senate.
“Medyo marami ring accomplishments under the leadership of Senate President Chiz. So it’s a difficult choice. Pareho kong naging kapartido, NPC po kami pare-pareho,” Ejercito said.
Recently, based on a report on PhilStar, amid his gratitude to former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito reiterated his support for Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero. According to him, it will be improper to abandon the current leadership in the Senate.
Sen. Joel Villanueva previously claimed that there are allegedly 13 senators already who support Escudero. However, it is still unclear if the race for the Senate presidency would just involve Escudero and Sotto or it will also include presidential sister and reelected Sen. Imee Marcos who claimed that some senators want her to seek the Senate presidency.