Escudero remains Senate president

Senate President Francis Escudero. Photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—With the support of the majority of his peers, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero retained his post as Senate president, defeating his sole challenger, Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

Shortly after the opening of the first regular session of the 20th Congress on Monday, the Senate proceeded to elect its new officials, with 19 senators, including Sotto, voting in favor of Escudero.

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

Only five senators, including Escudero himself, voted for Sotto.

The other four senators who backed Sotto were Juan Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, and Risa Hontiveros.

In a speech after his election, Escudero said the Senate “is not mine alone to lead.”

“The direction we will take will never be determined by a single hand, much less my hand, but by 24 heads—each with a mandate, each with a mind, each with a voice that matters,” he said.

READ: Chiz Escudero is new Senate president; Miguel Zubiri out

“This is a collective body, and its strength lies in the balance, not in the banging, of that gavel,” he added.

Although senators come from different provinces, parties, and pasts, Escudero expressed belief that the Senate would prevail “despite the issues that have come to divide” them.

“We have overcome them before. And we shall overcome these again,” he said.

“We will not be cowed by the shrillest of voices,” he said. “We will stand up for what is right, what is just, and what is consistent with the Rule of Law and our Constitution.”

Later in the session,  Zubiri nominated Sotto to serve as their Minority Leader, which the latter accepted.

“I’ve been a good soldier of this august body since 1992, and I’m always honored by any position entrusted to me by my esteemed colleagues.  So I pledge to perform the duties and responsibilities of being the Minority Leader,” Sotto said.

Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada retained his post as Senate President Pro Tempore, while Senator Joel Villanueva was elected Majority Leader and concurrent chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules—positions he also held under the leadership of then-Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

In May 2024, Zubiri stepped down from the Senate presidency and was succeeded by Escudero.

Villanueva was the first of four senators who nominated Escudero for Senate president.

“In all humility, I can say that when Senator Escudero ran for vice president in 2016, I couldn’t support him because we belonged to different parties. When he aimed for the Senate presidency, I did not support him then either,” Villanueva said.

“I admit that Senator Escudero did not receive any direct support from me in his past political battles…So, why Senator Chiz Escudero? Because aside from the fact that he never lost his trust in us, he never stopped mentoring, challenging, and inspiring us. He truly brings out the best in us,” he explained in Filipino.

“Above all, his goals are clear. Despite all the political noise, all he really wants is to ‘work, work, work’,” he added.

Villanueva also said that when the Senate came under attack due to conflicting views on impeachment, Escudero stood his ground and guided the chamber in the right direction.

“Senator Escudero has deflected countless blows to protect the Senate. It is never easy to face judgmental remarks, harsh criticisms from certain critics, and at times, even below-the-belt attacks, especially on social media. Yet he confronted all of these with courage, responding in a calm, intelligent, and respectful manner,” he said in Filipino.

Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and Raffy Tulfo also stood up on the floor and nominated Escudero to be the Senate chief.

Even before the start of the new Congress on June 30, Sotto had already expressed his readiness to return as Senate president if he had the support of the majority of his colleagues.

Zubiri later disclosed that their group — called the “veterans’ bloc”— wanted Sotto to lead the Senate.

Zubiri initially identified himself, Sotto, Lacson, and Legarda as members of the group. He later included Senator Lito Lapid as part of their bloc.

But as soon as the new Congress began on June 30, Villanueva said that 13 or the majority of 24 senators would support the continued leadership of Escudero.

More senators came out to confirm their support for Escudero, such as Senators  JV Ejercito and dela Rosa.

As the numbers appeared to favor Escudero, Sotto’s group shifted toward forming a new minority group in the Senate./mcm/abc