It looks like Duterte is approving a higher position for his election running mate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
Efforts are being made to install Cayetano as the next Senate President, with a draft resolution for his appointment already being passed around to incoming and incumbent senators.
As a matter of fact, senator-elect Manny Pacquiao have already signed the resolution following a meeting with president-elect Rodrigo Duterte, Cayetano, and other allies.
Cayetano may have to face stiff competition as he is up against Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, the incoming President’s partymate in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) who has not been shy about his own ambition to the post.
The Liberal Party's current Senate President Franklin Drilon is also expected to fight to retain his position. Sen. Vicento Sotto III is also said to be in the race.
A contender needs 13 votes from the 24-member upper chamber to become Senate President.
Pacquiao echoed the resolution's criteria for Senate leadership, and the appointed one “must match the people’s expectations for boldness, political will and efficient action, necessary to bring about real change in our people’s lives.”
Pacquiao believes that Cayetano is the right man for the job.
Asked earlier in the evening about his take on the Senate presidency, Duterte said he was “hands-off.”
“I have kept my distance there,” he said.
Cayetano refused to reveal about his preferences about the post. He also didn't want to talk about Duterte's choice.
“He (Duterte) doesn’t want to meddle with the independence of the Senate. But he’s also human, meaning that if you ask him directly, he also has a preference. And the senators already know that,” Cayetano said.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
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