Escudero ‘hopeful’ of supermajority backing to retain Senate presidency

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Monday expressed hope that he will get the backing of the Senate supermajority to keep his post as head of the upper chamber in the 20th Congress.  

Escudero, however, was mum when asked about the resolution, which several senators signed to retain him as Senate President once the 20th Congress begins its first regular session on July 28.

“Sinuman ang bibigyan ng kumpiyansa ng mayoriya ng mga senador dapat hindi niya talikuran ‘yung responsibilidad na ‘yun. May numero man ngayon o wala, ulitin ko, ang magpapasya niyan sa pagbubukas mismo ng Senado dahil do’n lamang bibilangin ‘yung boto bilang pag-suporta sa susunod na bagong Senate President,” he told reporters in an ambush interview.

(Whoever is given the support of the majority of senators should face that responsibility. Whether we have the number or not, that will be decided at the opening of the session because only then will the votes for the next Senate President be counted.) 

“Hintayin na lamang natin. Hindi naman dini-discuss ‘yung resolution o piniprisinta ‘yung resolusyon eh. Botohan by show of hands ang nangyayari sa Senado,” he added. 

(Let's just wait. The resolution is not being discussed or presented. We vote through the showing of hands in the Senate.) 

Senator JV Ejercito earlier said that as many as 16 senators have already signed the resolution expressing support for Escudero to remain as Senate president in the next Congress. 

Ejercito said that if their number reaches 18, Escudero will likely take the supermajority. He said among those who signed are the Cayetano, Villar, and Tulfo siblings, as well as his brother, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.

The so-called “Duterte bloc” composed of Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Bong Go, Robin Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, and Imee Marcos have also committed to back Escuero’s Senate presidency. 

Meanwhile, the so-called “veterans bloc” composed of Senators Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Loren Legarda, and Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, is pushing for Sotto to return as the chamber's leader.—LDF, GMA Integrated News