Facade of the Senate of the Philippines building. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will convene for the opening of the 19th Congress on Monday.
Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Miguel Zubiri is expected to lead the opening of the First Regular Session and the election of officers at the Senate Plenary Hall.
Zubiri will bang the ceremonial gavel shortly after 10 a.m. to symbolize the opening of the session.
The 24 senators are then expected to elect their officers for the new Congress, including the Senate President, Senate President Pro-Tempore, Majority Leader, Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms.
The losing candidate for Senate President is traditionally elected as the Minority Leader.
The Senate has also created deputy majority floor leaders positions, Zubiri previously announced.
Zubiri will likely take the helm of the Upper Chamber as the 24th Senate President.
The Senate will be welcoming 12 elected senators — three first-time senators (Sen. Robin Padilla, Sen. Raffy Tulfo and Sen. Mark Villar), four reelected lawmakers (Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Miguel Zubiri, Sen. Joel Villanueva , and Sen. Risa Hontiveros) and five returning legislators (Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Sen. JV Ejercito, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Loren Legarda).