Outgoing Senate President Vicente C. Sotto on Monday, June 13 said Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri is the best choice to be the next Senate President in the coming 19th Congress.

Sotto cited Zubiri’s long experience as Majority Floor Leader and has learned the ropes from his closeness to him and to former Senate Presidents Franklin M. Drilon and Aquilino Pimentel III.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar had paved the way for Zubiri’s Senate presidency when she withdrew from the presidential race.

On the position of Senator-elect Alan Peter S. Cayetano that he would join the Senate majority bloc of Zubiri only if the Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairmanship is handed to him a few days ago, Sotto said Zubiri knows what to do.

Sotto said his experience tells him that ‘’problems resolve themselves” at the Senate.

He said only the one fit should be the committee chairman.

Zubiri had said he offered the Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairmanship to Senator Francis Tolentino.

On June 1, the day the Senate adjourned sine die, Zubiri announced the start of the selection of Senate committee chairmen.

Today, Sotto went to the Senate complex to do administrative work such as signing payrolls for the Senate rank and file.

Sotto will sit as the Senate President until June 29.

Winners in the May 9, 2022 national elections such as President-elect Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ R. Marcos Jr., Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio and senators-elect were expected to take their oath on or before June 30.

On June 30, Zubiri, a re-electionist, will man the Senate as the Senate President Pro Tempore until the 19th Congress where the next set of Senate officials will be voted upon on July 25.

Sotto recalled that he and President-elect Marcos talked at the Marcos headquarters in Mandaluyong last May 28 where the young Marcos asked him if he (Sotto) plans to go back to the Senate.

Sotto has four six-year terms as senator. A senator is barred from seeking a seat in the Senate after two consecutive six-year terms.

If he plans to go back to the Upper House, Sotto has to wait for the lapse of three years.

The Senate chief said he had told the President-elect that this depends on whether his services are needed and that whether they are useful.

Sotto also told young Marcos that he would make himself available to the incoming Marcos administration on his drug advocacy if it is needed. He was a former Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman.

During that meeting, Sotto, chairman of the Senate Committee of the Whole, briefed the President-elect the problems at the Bureau of Customs and Department of Agriculture and the persons involved in smuggling, particularly agricultural produce.

At present, Sotto said his focus is on his recording studio, business and family.

Yesterday, Sotto said he and his brothers and friends played golf.