Escudero, Gatchalian take oath as senators

SENATE COMEBACK. Francis Escudero takes his oath as a senator before Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at the Supreme Court in Manila. Photo courtesy of Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Sorsogon governor and senator-elect Francis “Chiz” Escudero and re-electionist Senator Sherwin Gatchalian took their oath of office on Wednesday.

Escudero’s oath was administered by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at the Supreme Court in Manila.

Escudero vowed to clear all hurdles to achieve autonomy in local governments.

“Kagaya nang aking naipangako, ipaglalaban ko at tatanggalin ko ang lahat ng mga balakid kaugnay sa tunay na autonomiya ng mga lokal na pamahalaan,” he said in a statement.

(As I promised, I will fight and remove all challenges in relation to the real autonomy of local governments.)

He assured the public that he will work closely with the administration of incoming president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to pass the proposed P5.2 trillion national budget for 2023.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian took his oath at the WES Arena in Barangay Punturin, Valenzuela City.

His oath was administered by Barangay Canumay West Captain Mario San Andres.

Gatchalian committed to improving the lives of each Filipino during his second term in the upper chamber of Congress.

Screengrab from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s official Facebook page

“At ngayon, sa susunod na anim na taon, marami ho tayong hamon na hinaharap, lalo na ngayon lang tayo bumabangon sa paglugmok ng pandemya at marami rin ho tayong mga pagsubok na nakikita dito sa ating bansa,” he said after his oath-taking.

(And now, in the next six years, we are facing many challenges, especially now that we are just recovering from the slowdown of the pandemic.)

“Pero mga kasama, gagawin ko po ang lahat ng aking makakaya. Bibigay ko po ang lahat ng aking lakas para maitaas ang kalidad at antas ng pamumuhay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino sa ating bansa. ‘Yan po ang aking pangako, ‘yan po ang aking gagawin,” he added.

(But, I will do everything I can. I will give all my strength to improve the quality and status of lives of each Filipino family. That is my promise, I will do that.)

Both Escudero and Gatchalian received more than 20 million votes in the May 9 elections, placing fifth and fourth, respectively, in the senatorial race.

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