Sen. Tito Sotto Defends 12-Senator Quorum during Latest Senate Plenary Session
TITO SOTTO – The former Senate President explained how ’13 becomes 12′ in reference to the controversial quorum during the latest session in the chamber.
The recent switch in the Senate leadership earned different reactions from the now-minority senators. After Sen. Chiz Escudero attended the Senate plenary session, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was ousted from the Senate presidency as his 12 colleagues voted to declare all the positions vacant.
The senators present on Wednesday elected Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as the Senate President Pro Tempore replacing Sen. Loren Legarda. Here are the new chairpersons of the key committees in the upper chamber:
- Finance: Sen. JV Ejercito
- National Defense and Security: Sen. Tito Sotto
- Public Order and Dangerous Drugs: Sen. Ping Lacson
- Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon Committee): Sen. Erwin Tulfo
- Public Services: Sen. Raffy Tulfo
- Basic Education: Sen. Bam Aquino
- Agriculture: Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
- Health and Demography: Sen. Risa Hontiveros
- Games and Amusement: Sen. Lito Lapid
- Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlements: Sen. Chiz Escudero
- Foreign Relations: Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri
The recent Senate plenary session came after the then-majority senators did not arrive for the session twice. According to Sen. Bam Aquino, they were already at risk of violating the Constitution if the recent session was not held. Then-Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano who replaced former SP Tito Sotto just a few weeks ago was questioned.
On Monday, the majority senators did not appear for the Senate plenary session but they accompanied Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in his surrender to the Philippine authorities. The Senator is faced with graft and plunder charges over his alleged multi-million flood control corruption.
Then-Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that they don’t appear for the Senate session to secure the chairmanships of the committees. According to him, they want to push through with the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday about the flood control corruption.
However, the 12-senator quorum of the lawmakers during the latest Senate session is embattled with the questions of the now-minority senators. Recently, former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto broke his silence to the questions and criticisms.
Sen. Tito Sotto explained when 13 becomes 12. Based on the post, he stressed that there are only 22 senators now who have the liberty to fulfill their duties. Sen. Bato dela Rosa has gone into hiding again while Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is now under detention.
‘When does 13 become 12? It’s when 24 becomes 22,’ Sotto said.
Amid the issue in the Senate, Sen. Robin Padilla recently shared on social media a post about ‘betrayal’.