Koko Pimentel quits as Senate President

FILE: Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III resigned as leader of the upper house on Monday, May 21. (Photo: Senate President Koko Pimentel)

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has resigned as leader of the upper house on Monday, May 21.

Pimentel announced this in a press conference as he nominates Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III to replace him.

“It has been an honor and a privilege for me to serve the Senate as its president, a position once held by my father (former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.) … It was his example I had tried to emulate during my time at the helm of the Senate,” he said.

“I step down knowing that I tried my best to do this. I wish my successor, Senator Sotto, good health and Godspeed, and pledge to help the new leadership pass pro-people legislation consistent with the legislative agenda of the President,” he added.

This development came after reports surfaced that a draft resolution installing Sotto as the new Senate President was signed by majority of the Senate members.

The 15 senators who signed the resolution were Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Francis Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan II, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Manny Pacquiao, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Grace Poe.

Pimentel said the move for the change in Senate leadership was already planned for a long time.

“Matagal namin ‘to pinag-usapan ni Senator Sotto na darating ang time na siya na po ang Senate president (Senator Sotto and I have long discussed that there would come a time that he would become the Senate president),” Pimentel confirmed.

“This is an example of a peaceful and willing transfer of power in the Senate,” he continued.

The outgoing Senate leader was elected in 2016 at the start of the 17th Congress. He is also the president of the ruling party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban).

Pimentel on Sunday, May 20, said that he does not hold grudges against his colleagues despite his replacement as head of the upper house.

“Siyempre wala. Ganyan talaga ang buhay dapat (Of course, none. That is life. You have to be) open to changes all the time,” he stressed.

“No issue at all with me. Change will happen with my happy blessings. Change is coming soon,” he added.