QUEZON CITY — The session of the 17th Congress formally commenced this morning.
In Senate, newbie senators took their oath of office first before formally voting for their new senate president.
Senator Vicente Sotto III first moved to nominate Senator Koko Pimentel and seconded by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Senator Chiz Escudero followed suit and nominated Sen. Ralph Recto.
After voting, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III was elected the new senate president after he received 20 out of 23 votes of the senators present.
“Hence, I pledge before all of you today that I will be fair in carrying out the mandate that you have given me as senate president
If we follow the mantra, the poorest first, the poor second then we will never go wrong.
Sen. Recto was named the minority leader while Sen. Frankling Drilon was named the senate president pro-tempore and Sen. Sotto as the majority floor leader.
Member senators of the majority bloc are senators Vicente Sotto III, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Franklin Drilon, Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay, Leila De Lima, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan II, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Manny Pacquiao, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar and Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III.
Members of the minority bloc are senators Chiz Escudero, Antonio Trillanes IV and Ralph Recto.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was absent as he signified before his interest in the senate presidency.
But on his social media account, Cayetano said he is ready to support the programs of the government towards change.
According to senate president Pimentel, assigning of committee chairmanship is expected to be finalized this week in order for senate to begin work.
(BRYAN DE PAZ/UNTV NEWS & RESCUE)
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