MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he continues to support the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III amid questions on the stability of the Senate’s top post.

When asked if Sotto’s leadership remains stable following reports that former and incumbent lawmakers were implicated in the ongoing probe into alleged corruption in public works projects, Lacson said the matter depends on his colleagues.

“I don’t know, that’s what’s in my colleagues’ minds,” he said. “But if you will ask me, I’ve already experienced his being a Senate president for the longest time, in the past Congress. His system of management is good; he has good leadership. He always goes for consensus, he doesn’t dictate and he doesn’t decide alone. So if you ask me, I’ll continue to support him.”

Lacson added that leadership changes in the Senate depend on the majority’s decision. “Now, if in the views of my colleagues, he is also lacking in leadership…that’s how it goes in the Senate, whoever has the majority, whoever has at least 13… whoever is sitting can be replaced by whoever has at least 13 (votes),” he said.

His remarks came after Senator JV Ejercito said he and four other senators were planning to leave the majority bloc following the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into anomalous flood control projects that implicated former and current senators.

Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, however, said on Saturday that he believes Sotto’s leadership remains “very stable.” (INQ)