Ejercito backs Escudero as Senate president

Senate President Francis Escudero answers questions during a press conference at the Senate office on June 25, 2025. — Photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. JV Ejercito said while he still respects former Senate president and reelected Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, he was still throwing his support behind incumbent Senate President Francis Escudero to lead the chamber.

This came in an interview over DWIZ on Saturday after Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said a “veteran bloc” had been formed in the chamber and admitted that the group initially pushed for Sotto to be the Senate president.

“I have to be honest, I’m finding it difficult. Put another way, I’m caught in the middle,” Ejercito said in Filipino when asked in an interview over DWIZ on Saturday about the possibility of a change in Senate leadership.

The senator credited Sotto for helping pass Republic Act 11201, the law creating the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development; and RA 11223 or the Universal Health Care Law, both of which Ejercito co-authored in the Senate.

“He was Senate president and really pushed and supported me to have those passed. He is also my partymate, so the respect never goes away,” Ejercito said.

But what if senators call for a change in the chamber’s leadership when the 20th Congress begins?

Citing his role as deputy majority leader, Ejercito said, “I’ll probably be one of the last to leave (Escudero) because I am part of his leadership.”

“It’s not in my nature to leave people,” he added,

READ: Escudero has support of 13 of 24 senators — Villanueva

Zubiri’s pronouncement came after Sen. Joel Villanueva said Escudero had the support of at least 13 out of the 24 senators.

According to Zubiri, the “veteran bloc” consisted of himself and Sotto as well as Sens. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Loren Legarda. /das