MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Vicente Sotto III on Monday took his oath as the new Senate president after 15 senators voted to oust Sen. Francis Escudero.
It was Escudero who administered Sotto's oath of office which was witnessed by his children.
Sotto's fellow members with the minority bloc namely Senators Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, and Migz Zubiri joined him in the podium., This news data comes from:http://705-888.com
They will join Sotto in the majority group. Lacson and Zubiri were also elected as Senate president pro tempore and majority leader, respectively.
"You have gifted me the honor of being your Senate President the second time around. To reiterate my statement from my previous election, I did not become your superior, I am simply a presider of your session," Sotto said.
"I am your listener, your adviser if you so desire, your enabler for anything within my power to do so. I am primus inter pares - first among equals," Sotto said.
Escudero said he serves "at the pleasure of the majority and understand and respect the decision of the majority of my colleagues."
Sotto takes oath as Senate president
"I hold no grudges. I hold no ill feelings," Escudero said as he congratulated Sotto on his election as Senate chief.
- DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
- Fire breaks out in Manila residential area
- Social pension eyed for indigent seniors
- More funding sought for sports commission
- Napolcom welcomes Nartatez’s move to recall Torre’s reassignments
- La Niña forecast from Sept-Dec, expect more tropical cyclones, above normal rainfall -- Pagasa
- Marcos suspends importation of regular, well-milled rice for 60 days
- Nartatez to reassign Torre if he won't retire, says they're 'okay'
- What to know about Indonesia's nationwide unrest over lawmakers' perks
- 'Perfect storm': UK fishermen reel from octopus invasion
