SPFMD: No. You know, it is often said that the Senate Presidency is a gift of thirteen senators to whoever is the senator they will elect as Senate President. We, the senators, elect the Senate President. In this particular instance, the Liberal Party and its allies - we have eight votes - and Senator Tito Sotto's NPC (Nationalist People's Coalition) - which has about eight votes - so between Senator Tito Sotto and myself, we have 16 votes. Q: So it matters who you vote for. SPFMD: Of course. It is the senators who elect their officers of the Senate, and nobody else.
SPFMD: Tama po iyan, napagkasunduan na po namin sa Senado, sa aming partido sa Partido Liberal kasama ang Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC)at iba pang mga partido na aming susundin ang mandato ng taumbayan at ang PDP-Laban ang nagwagi noong nakaraang halalan, kaya kahit isa lang ang PDP-Laban sa Senado ay amin pong pinagpasyahan na si Senator Koko Pimentel ang mamumuno sa Senado.