Sotto replaces Escudero as Senate president

Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is once again the Senate president after replacing Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as head of the upper chamber. 

Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Monday afternoon made the motion in the plenary to declare the position of the Senate president vacant, which was approved by Escudero. 

Zubiri then nominated Sotto whom he described as a “leader of great integrity” to the position, which was seconded by Senator Loren Legarda. 

“With Senator Sotto as Senate president, the Senate is in good hands,” Zubiri said. 

Then Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada approved the motion after no one objected in the 24-member chamber.

In his manifestation, Escudero thanked his colleagues both in the 19th and 20th Congress, emphasizing that he respects the decision of the majority and holds “no grudges, no ill feelings.”

“During my tenure, Mr. President, the Senate did not shy away from confronting the difficult questions facing our nation. We passed a record number of laws that helped uplift the lives of our countrymen. We conducted hearings that unearthed corruption on a scale rarely seen before. And in doing so, we remind the public that accountability is not a mere empty rhetoric but a duty that we must uphold,” Escudero said. 

“I am proud of what the Senate has accomplished together, and I trust that the spirit of transparency and courage that have been displayed by this Chamber will be sustained. Sana po mapapatuloy natin ito (I hope we may be able to continue this). Let justice and the rule of law be done and followed ‘though the heavens may fall,’” he added. 

Escudero also congratulated Sotto for his return as head of the upper chamber. 

“I wish you well, Mr. Senate President. Nandito lamang po ako bilang ordinaryong miyembro para pagsilbihan at paglingkuran kayo sa anumang kapasidad na pwede at kaya ko bilang bahagi ng Senadong ito,” he said. 

(I’m just here as an ordinary member of the Senate to serve you in any capacity that I can.) 

Accomplishments

Escudero also cited several accomplishments that happened under his leadership, such as Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco being able to testify during the Senate blue ribbon committee’s hearing on the anomalous flood control projects. 

“Nasabi na rin po, Ginoong Pangulo, ang the name that cannot be mentioned, ang pangalan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez at Congressman Zaldy Co sa pamamagitan ng paghe-hearing kanina pong hapon,” the senator said. 

(The names that cannot be mentioned—-the names of Speaker Martin Romualdez and Congressman Zaldy Co—were already dropped during the hearing a while ago.) 

Escudero also said that he already signed the arrest and detention of former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez after he was cited in contempt in the hearing earlier.

"What accomplishment?"

In a statement, Romualdez questioned Escudero’s claim of accomplishment. 

“Senator Chiz Escudero may consider the Blue Ribbon hearings as part of his legacy, but it is unfair to call them an accomplishment when they relied on unfounded claims,” Romualdez said.

“Malinaw na ang mga pagdinig na ito ay ginamit hindi para sa katotohanan, kundi para sa paninira (it’s clear that these hearings are used not to attain truth, but to ruin one’s image). And worse, the accusations came from contractors themselves—those already under investigation and admitting responsibility for ghost projects,” he added.

Romualdez also said hearsay is not evidence, as true accountability is based on facts. 

“Ang sabi-sabi ay hindi ebidensiya, at ang paninira ay hindi kailanman magiging hustisya (Rumors are not evidence, and justice will not be attained through defamation),” Romualdez said.

“The House of Representatives remains focused on real work—safeguarding every peso of the people’s money and serving with integrity and resolve,” he added.

Meanwhile, Co denied Tiango’s claims, saying that they are “baseless and irresponsible accusations.”

Corruption 

Sotto, in his acceptance speech, lamented that Filipino people are now enraged of the corruption “that is now seen, heard and felt more than ever.”

“The failed flood control projects that supposed to protect the lives, livelihood and properties of our countrymen, the dilapidated classrooms for our students, and the lack of quality farm-to-market roads to aid our farmers, all are engulfed in corruption, hindering the progress of the nation as a whole,” the newly installed Senate president said. 

“Corruption is now perceived by our people to be in the whole of government. But with the political will of those in position and together with the vigilance and clamor from the public, we can fight this and bring transparency and true accountability that our nation deserves,” he added. 

Sotto thus committed to ensure that the Senate will remain cooperative but independent, balanced, transparent, and sincere.   

“You have gifted me the honor of being your Senate President the second time around. To reiterate my statement from my previous election, I did not become your superior, I am simply a presider of your session. I am your listener, your adviser if you so desire, your enabler for anything within my power to do so. I am primus inter pares—first among equals,” he emphasized.

Pro tempore, majority leader

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, meanwhile, was elected as the new Senate President Pro Tempore, replacing Estrada.

Zubiri was also named as the new Senate Majority Leader, replacing Senator Joel Villanueva. 

Lacson, Zubiri, and Sotto were all members of the minority bloc, with the latter being the former Senate minority leader. 

Earlier on Monday, Sotto admitted moves to initiate leadership change in the Senate, replacing Escudero.

Asked in an ambush interview if he will be the one to replace Escudero, Sotto said, “Parang ganun (it’s like that).”

Sotto said that 15 senators already signified their support for him. 

He said that he already talked to Escudero prior to the plenary session scheduled this afternoon.

“I have to see him (Escudero)… Ang una kong tinanong is how do you want to do this? Sabi niya, 'It’s up to you, how do you prefer to do it?’ Sabi niya... ‘Let’s do it and declare the Senate president vacant,’” Sotto told reporters. —AOL/LDF/RF, GMA Integrated News