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Drilon to Give Up Senate Presidency to Koko Pimentel
Senate President Franklin Drilon said he is giving up the Senate Presidency to Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. The top senate position is to be assumed by Pimentel on July 17.
Drilon said in an interview with ANC on Tuesday, June 14, that he did not aspire for the said position.
Pimentel is the president of PDP-Laban. He and president-elect Rodrigo Duterte are the only members of the said party in the Senate.
Drilon is an ally of outgoing President Benigno Aquino III but said to have recognized the mandate of the president-elect.
“Yes I am giving up my seat. I could have contested it, but i would like to show that since President-elect Duterte has that mandate, okay, we recognize that mandate,” Drilon said.
Though Drilon has 8 senators supporting him, he said that he is openly giving up the position to provide “stability” to the chamber in the 17th Congress.
The 17th Congress will open on July 25.
