Senator Vicente Sotto III was elected as the new Senate President on Monday, September 8, 2025, replacing Senator Francis Escudero.
Also taking oath were Senator Panfilo Lacson as Senate President Pro Tempore, succeeding Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as Senate Majority Floor Leader.
In a report by GMA News Online, Sotto, who previously served as Senate Minority Leader, earlier confirmed that he had already gathered the support of 15 senators for the leadership change.
He said Escudero was informed earlier in the day and reportedly told them, “It’s up to you… Let’s do it, and declare the Senate presidency vacant.”
The shift in Senate leadership came at a time when the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is holding hearings on alleged anomalous flood control projects.
