‘Exhausted’ Sotto wants to give up Senate leadership

MANILA, Philippines – As Majority Leader, Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III holds an important and powerful position. But he now wants to give it up, according to a report by state media Philippine News Agency (PNA).

”This job is too exhausting…. If there would be an election in the 16th Congress, then, I will inform them that I’m not seeking for nomination as chairman of the committee on rules,” PNA quoted Sotto as saying before the plenary session on Wednesday, October 10.

The chairman of the committee on rules is also the Majority Leader. He is in charge of the daily session, making sure that bills are tackled on schedule and rules are always followed.

Sotto has been widely criticized lately – particularly on social media – because of his arguments against the Reproductive Health bill, his supposedly plagiarized speeches in the Senate, and his move to include online libel in the new Cybercrime law. (The Supreme Court has issued a TRO on the Cybercrime law.)

”I’m tired. The work is difficult, you’re always conscientious. You have to master the art of compromise. I cannot do what I wanted to do like opposing the proposed bills,” the PNA report further quotes Sotto.

Sotto said his job as Majority Leader prevents him from arguing lengthily in favor of or against bills pending in the Senate. He said he wants to be like Sen Joker Arroyo, who doesn’t chair any Senate committee. This allows him, Sotto said, to argue more on pending measures.

”I have many fulfillment but it is not worth the stress that I’m having,” Sotto said. – Rappler.com