Moves on for leadership changes in Congress

Tiangco, Sotto open to change

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Amid the weak showing of the administration candidates in the midterm elections, reports are swirling about possible leadership changes in the two chambers of Congress.

Incoming senator Vicente Sotto III—on his fifth term in the Senate—admitted that he would be willing to return as Senate president if he gets the majority vote of 13 senators.

In a Zoom interview with reporters yesterday, Sotto said three to four senators talked to him and asked him if he would be willing to return to his previous post in the incoming 20th Congress.

"If I have the numbers, I will accept. They are saying their peers are ready to support me. I said if we have 13 votes, I will accept," Sotto said.

At the House of Representatives, those occupying leadership posts denied any looming change. But Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, campaign manager of the Alyansa, said a gathering was called yesterday by Speaker Martin Romualdez amid the rumored leadership change.

Tiangco told "Storycon" on One News that several congressmen asked him if they should attend the meeting and sign statements of support for Romualdez, cousin of President Marcos.

Sotto served as Senate president from 2018 to 2022. He had served in the Senate under different Congresses in 19922004 and 2010-2022.

Sotto said he has not yet talked to current Senate President Francis Escudero about taking up the post. "We never discussed this. We will talk it over for sure if my colleagues will speak." During the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday, Escudero shrugged off the possibility that he will lose the Senate presidency to Sotto.