Sotto returns as Senate President amid Escudero’s removal

Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto reclaims the Senate presidency, replacing the incumbent Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as the head of the upper chamber.

On a plenary session on September 8, Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri motioned to declare the vacancy of the Senate President post, which was approved by Escudero.

Escudero suspended the session and directed Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada to go forward to the rostrum and preside over the session.

Zubiri formally nominated Sotto to take over the position, with Senator Loren Legarda seconding the motion.

“As Senate president, he always led with fairness and transparency, and he led with an open ear and decisive hand, ensuring unity and stability in the Senate at all times,” Zubiri stated, highlighting Sotto’s supposed qualification for the job.
With no objections or other nominations raised, Sotto was declared Senate President, and Escudero administered his oath.
According to Sotto, he and Escudero were able to discuss the leadership change, which was only finalized this morning, in which he also refused to say how it began and instead urged to direct the question to his colleagues in the opposition bloc.

“Better ask the four. They initiated the resolution,” Sotto noted.

The opposition bloc consists of Senators Panfilo Lacson, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Risa Hontiveros.

He also clarified that he had secured the support of at least 15 of 24 senators, surpassing the 13 votes required to elect a new Senate president.

After his installation, Senator Panfilo Lacson was then elected as the new Senate President Pro Tempore while Zubiri is now the Majority Leader, replacing Senator Joel Villanueva.

Escudero’s removal comes amid ongoing investigations into his alleged ties to Centerways Construction and Development Inc., one of the 15 contractors that secured the most flood control contracts since the start of the Marcos Administration.

The issue surrounding the flood control projects is the subject of the now ongoing probe conducted by the Senate blue ribbon committee.

Escudero only assumed the Senate presidency in May last year, following his predecessor, Juan Miguel Zubiri.