Tito Sotto elected as Senate President Pro Tempore

Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was elected as the new Senate President Pro Tempore during Wednesday’s special session.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson nominated Sotto for the position, which was concurred by all other senators present in the plenary.

Sotto thereafter took his oath of office as the Senate President Pro Tempore, administered by newly elected Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. Sotto previously served as Senate President, but was ousted by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

On June 3, Gatchalian was elected Senate President Pro Tempore and was named by his bloc as acting Senate President.

Earlier, Cayetano conceded that no longer had the numbers to remain as Senate President after Senator Joel Villanueva switched sides.

The Senate convened a special session in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to act on priority measures.

The upper chamber began the special session past 9 a.m., presided over by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

Present in the plenary hall were: Senators Gatchalian, Erwin Tulfo, Ping Lacson, Lito Lapid, Chiz Escudero, Risa Hontiveros, Vicente Sotto III, Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Kiko Pangilinan, Raffy Tulfo, and Joel Villanueva. — RSJ, GMA News