Escudero: Up to majority if I stay as Senate chief in 20th Congress

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday said he remains as the top leader of the chamber until the next Congress unless he is replaced by the majority.

“Sa dulo, ang magpapasya ng Senate president kung manantili man ako o iba ang uupo ay ‘yung mayorya ng Senado,” Escudero said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

(In the end, it is the Senate majority that will decide whether I stay or someone else takes the seat of Senate president.)

“Sang-ayon sa rules ng Senado, magpapatuloy ang Senate president kung hindi nag-graduate katulad ng sitwasyon ngayon at magbabago lang yan kung may nagpresenta ng higit sa mayoryang boto kapag nag-resume ang Senado,” he added.

(According to Senate rules, the Senate president will continue in office if they have not graduated, as is the current situation, and this will only change if someone presents a majority vote when the Senate [session] resumes.)

Escudero made the remark when asked about the possible leadership change in the Senate, considering that veteran senators, including former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, are expected to join them in the 20th Congress in July.

He said that anyone from the 24-man Senate, not only Sotto, could accept the post of being a Senate president should he or she has enough numbers to be elected as one.

“Sino man ang may numero dapat tanggapin niya ‘yong responsibilidad at ‘yong hamon na ‘yon kung nasa kanya ang tiwala ng mas nakararaming senador,” Escudero said.

(Whoever has the numbers must accept that responsibility and challenge if they have the trust of the majority of the senators.)

For now, the sitting Senate president said he wants to focus on the pending legislations before thinking of 20th Congress and the possibility of his replacement as chief of the upper chamber.

“Katatapos lang ng eleksyon at bangayan at ingay sisimulan ninyo na naman agad. Palipasin ninyo naman tapusin muna natin itong kongresong ito may dalawa pa kaming linggo na marami pa kaming inaasahang mapapasa at maihahabol na mga panukalang batas,” he said.

(The elections, all the arguing and noise just ended, and you’re already starting it again. Let’s finish this 19th Congress first. We still have two weeks left, and there are many more bills we expect to pass and catch up on.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News