Sotto Resigns as Majority Leader

During the last session day of the 15th Congress, Senator Vicente Sotto III announced that he will quit as the Senate majority leader.

Sotto mentioned different reasons behind his resignation, including him being weary.

In reports, Sotto gave this statement to reporters, “I don’t think I can top the time and effort, blood and sweat that I put in the last three years into the next three years. So let’s leave it at that. As they say, quit while you’re ahead. It’s better that way.”

The resignation of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is a factor in Sotto’s decision. Enrile stepped down from office a day before Sotto’s resignation.

For now, Sotto wants to focus on being a member of the minority. And he’ll just wait for the 16th Congress to decide who will be the next person for his position.

Both Enrile and Sotto are members of the Senate’s so-called “macho bloc”.

Their allies Estrada and Honasan in the bloc assumed their positions —Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada as Senate President and Gregorio Honasan as majority leader.

Sources: newsinfo.inquirer.net, www.philstar.com, www.abs-cbnnews.com