By Vanne Elaine Terrazola A more unified and harmonious Senate could be expected when Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III assumes post as its chief, two of his colleagues said. Senator Vicente Sotto III (Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN) Sen. Panfilo Lacson, in radio interview this afternoon, said the majority bloc considers Sotto as a "unifying factor" among members of the Upper Chamber, as they chose him to replace Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, whose term will end on June 30, 2019. "Nakikita namin siya bilang unifying factor. Maski sa minorya, maganda yung kanyang pakikitungo. At sa tingin ko mas magiging harmonious ang buong Senado kung si Sen. Sotto yung nandoon (We see him as a unifying factor. He has good relations even with the minority bloc. I think the Senate will be more harmonious if Sen. Sotto assumes Senate presidency)," Lacson told DWIZ. Sen. Grace Poe, for her part, said Sotto's personality, also being a former actor-comedian, helps in uniting the senators. "Si Tito Sen, he brings the Senate together dahil sa kanyang personalidad, may sense of humor 'yan. Mabait si Tito Sen so siyempre, napag-uusap niya kami. At mas nagiging maayos at efficient yung pagtakbo ng Senado (Tito Sen brings the Senate together, because of his personality, he has a sense of humor. He is nice to all members, so he can bridge us together. And, as a result, the Senate is more orderly and efficient)," Poe said in a separate interview. Poe, who had just arrived from the United States, said she already signed the draft resolution “expressing the sense of the Senate to reorganize its leadership and electing Senator Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III as new Senate President.” Fourteen of the 17-member majority bloc have earlier signed the resolution. Lacson, meanwhile, defended Sotto against criticisms questioning the majority floor leader's qualifications to lead the Senate. "Unang-una siya yung pinaka senior, hindi sa edad, sa pagiging senador... Hindi matatawaran yung experience niya. Kung rules of the Senate lamang ang pag-uusapan, eh palagay ko sobra na yung kwalipikasyon niya (First of all, he is the most senior, not by age, but on being a senator. His experience is incomparable. If we talk of rules of the Senate, I think he has exceeded the qualifications)," he said. "Pinakamadaling gawin ng tao ay manglait, mang-insulto...Pero alalahanin nila na napakatagal na sa Senado ni Sen. Sotto, at sa public service, napakatagal din niya. Kaya huwag sanang tawaran yung kanyang kakayahan (It is easy for people to criticize and insult...But they should remember that he has long been in the Senate and public service. So we should not discount his abilities)," he added. Lacson also stressed that Sotto did not ask for the position, saying that members of the majority bloc unanimously chose him to be the next Senate President. Poe, agreeing with Lacson, said they "trust" Sotto, adding that he was never absent or late in Senate. Sotto first served in the Upper Chamber in 1992 and had completed two-terms, chairing various committees such as on public services, science and technology, local government and tourism. He also chaired the joint oversight committees on local government, youth and sports development and rural development. In 2010, he won a fresh term as senator, and is serving his second term at present. Sotto also chaired the Dangerous Drug Board from July 2008 to November 2009. In a text message yesterday, Sotto vowed to uphold an independent Senate and protect the institution from criticisms. "The Senate has a special place in my heart! I will not allow it to be degraded, trampled, attacked or unfairly criticized without responding fairly or violently if necessary," Sotto said.