MANILA, Philippines — The Senate underwent a dramatic shake-up on Monday, September 8, as Francis “Chiz” Escudero was unseated from the presidency of the chamber just weeks after winning reelection.
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| Senator Francis Escudero. Photo courtesy: Facebook/Chiz Escudero |
Escudero’s ouster came amid mounting criticism over his ties to contractor Lawrence Lubiano, a top campaign donor now linked to anomalous flood control projects. His handling of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial and the controversial P142.7 billion infrastructure allocations in the 2025 budget further fueled dissent among his peers.
With 15 senators backing him, veteran legislator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was elected as the new Senate president. The motion to declare the post vacant was initiated by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, seconded by Sen. Loren Legarda, and supported by colleagues Panfilo Lacson and Risa Hontiveros.
Escudero presided over the session when the move was made, but later yielded the floor and administered the oath of his successor. The transition ended with a handshake between the two leaders.
In his acceptance speech, Sotto emphasized his belief in collective leadership, echoing his 2018 pledge to serve as “first among equals.” He vowed to uphold independence while ensuring the Senate remains “cooperative, transparent, and sincere.”
Sotto also pledged to prioritize tackling corruption, pointing to the ongoing flood project controversy that has shaken public trust.
Panfilo Lacson was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, while Juan Miguel Zubiri took over as Majority Leader.
This marks Sotto’s second term as Senate president, a role he last held from 2018 to 2022.
— The Summit Express