Chiz meets with Sotto, Lacson to 'seek advice' on Senate presidency

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero has initiated a lunch meeting with former Senate president Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and former senator Panfilo Lacson last Tuesday to seek advice on handling his new position in the Upper Chamber.

"Nagkita kami, nag-lunch kami kahapon...Bilang paghingi ng payo... sa nauna sa akin bilang pagtanggap na hindi ko naman pwedeng hawak lahat ng kaalaman kaugnay ng pwestong hinahawakan ko ngayon," Escudero told reporters in an ambush interview.

(We met yesterday over lunch. I sought advice from those who held the position before me because I accept that I do not know everything about my current post.)

According to Escudero, the former senators advised him mostly on his administrative function in the Senate.

"Marami sa administrative function sa Senado. Kino-quote pa ni Tito Sen si Tali, si senator Neptali Gonzales sa binigay raw sa kanya noon," Escudero said.

(Most of their advice were about the administrative function in the Senate. Tito Sen even quoted the advice given to him by the late senator Neptali Gonzales.)

Escudero also shared that they "reminisced" the times when they worked together in the Senate during the previous congresses.

"Naging maganda 'yung pag-uusap namin, 'ika nga maganda ring ma-reminisce 'yung pagsasama namin noon na sana mangyari rin ulit sa hinaharap dahil sa napipinto nilang pagtakbo kung matutuloy," he said, referring to Sotto and Lacson's possible senatorial bids in 2025.

(Our conversation went well, we reminisced the good times we had and I hope it will happen again if ever they decide to run for Senate.)

The two former senators have yet to announce if they will run for the Senate next year.

Meanwhile, Escudero said that he agreed to meet with House Speaker Martin Romualdez next week to discuss the priority measures of both chambers ahead of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting which is scheduled on June 25.

"Kagabi nagkita-kita kami. Nagkasundo kami na magkita next week. So mag-uusap 'yung mga opisina naming para pag-usapan ang napipintong LEDAC sa June 25 at gayundin para pag-usapan ang pagbuo ng agenda ng Senado taking into account 'yung agenda ng mga indibidwal na kongresista," Escudero told reporters in the same ambush interview.

(We saw each other last night. We agreed to meet next week. Our offices will meet to discuss the incoming LEDAC on June 25 and the agenda of the Senate taking into account the agenda of the members of the House of Representatives.)

The Senate President reiterated the need to prioritize measures which have higher chances of approval in the chamber.

"Bakit sasayangin ng Kamara ang panahon nila sa isang bagay na hindi naman nais ng mayorya ng Senado? Bakit din naming sasayangin ang oras namin sa isang bagay na hindi naman gusto at nais ng Kamara? Mas nais naming pagtuunan ng pansin yung mga pwedeng pagkasunduan ng Kamara at Senado," he stressed.

(Why would the House waste its time on things that are not approved by the majority of the Senate. Also, Why would the Senate waste its time on things that will not be approved by the House. We want to focus our attention on things that the House and Senate can agree on.)

According to Escudero, he will be joined by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Majority Leader Francis Tolentino in the said meeting.

Asked if the top leaders of both houses will discuss Charter change and divorce in the meeting, Escudero said, "Isa yan sa matatalakay. Tiyak ko (That would be one of the topics, I'm sure)."

On Tuesday, Romualdez said he has discussed with Escudero the passage of some priority measures. but Cha-cha remains off the table for now.

Resolution of Both Houses 6 (RBH 6) and Resolution of Both Houses 7 (RBH 7) seek to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution by allowing more foreign ownership in vital industries such as education, advertising and public utilities.

RBH 6, however, provides for separate voting for the House and the Senate in a constituent assembly, while RBH 7 provides for voting of all members of Congress.

Escudero, who was elected Senate President more than a week ago after a swift coup that ousted Senator Miguel Zubiri, has said that he remains against Cha-cha because of contrasting provisions provided for in the proposals in terms of voting on constitutional amendments.

The House approved RBH 7 in March, but the same initiative did not even reach sub-committee approval under Zubiri.—AOL, GMA Integrated News