Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday admitted he was “shocked” by Sen. Loren Legarda’s decision to join the new Senate majority bloc led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
Speaking in an interview, Sotto said he did not expect Legarda’s move given their long political and personal history, including their partnership during the 2004 presidential campaign of the late Fernando Poe Jr., where Legarda served as Poe’s running mate and Sotto acted as campaign manager.
“Nagulat ako. I cannot say pleasantly surprised. I was almost shocked,” Sotto said.
(I was surprised. I cannot say I was pleasantly surprised. I was almost shocked.)
He compared the development to a sudden plot twist in a drama.
“Parang nanonood ka ng drama, biglang naiba ‘yung storya, naiba pala bigla ‘yung culprit,” he added.
(It’s like watching a drama where the story suddenly changes and the person you least expected turns out differently.)
Despite his disappointment, Sotto said he was not personally hurt by Legarda’s decision.
“Ang akin lang, at least alam ko na ang kulay mo after all these years,” he said.
(For me, at least now I know your true colors after all these years.)
Sotto also defended the senators who remained with the minority bloc, describing them as “tough” lawmakers who refused to yield to political pressure.
He revealed that Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito abstained from the leadership vote after allegedly declining an offer to become majority leader under the Cayetano-led bloc.
Sotto added that Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also chose to abstain because he did not want to be “painted differently,” although he did not elaborate further.