SOTTO REPLACES ESCUDERO AS SENATE PRESIDENT

SENATOR Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday, September 8, 2925, replaced Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as Senate President.

This as Escudero has stepped down from his position after Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri made the motion in the plenary to declare the position of the Senate president vacant.

Zubiri then nominated Sotto as Senate leader which was seconded by Senator Loren Legarda. 

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

In a manifestation, Escudero thanked his colleagues in the 19th and 20th Congress for giving him the trust to lead the Senate.

“Nais ko pong magpasalamat sa mga kapwa ko miyembro ng Senado na nagbigay po ng tiwala sa akin sa 19th at 20th Congress. Nais ko din po pasalamatan ang mga opisyal at kawani ng Senado. Karangalan kong pagsilbihan kayo at manilbihan kasama kayo nitong nagdaang taon,” Escudero said.

“I serve at the pleasure of the majority and understand and respect the decision of the majority of my colleagues. I hold no grudges. I hold no ill feelings,” he said.

Escudero congratulated Sotto on his election as 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,” Escudero said.

According to Escudero, during his tenure, 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 all uphold,” the veteran legislator said.

Escudero also mentioned several accomplishments that happened under his leadership, such as Navotas City Rep. 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-heariong kanina pong hapon,” said Escudero.

He added that he already signed the arrest and detention of former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez who was cited in contempt during a Senate hearing.

“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 ipagpatuloy natin ito. Let justice and the rule of law be done and followed “though the heavens may fall,” Escudero further said.

Meanwhile, as Senate president for the second time, Sotto said he will do everything in his capacity to ensure that the Senate will remain cooperative but independent, balanced, transparent and sincere. 

Sotto earlier served as Senate president from 2018 to 2022.