Senator Chiz Escudero has been formally elected as Senate President for the second time, securing 19 affirmative votes during the opening of the 20th Congress on Monday.
Escudero defeated his closest contender, Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who garnered 5 votes.
In line with a “gentleman’s agreement,” Escudero cast his vote for Sotto, while Sotto reciprocated by voting for Escudero.
The 19 senators who voted for Escudero were:
- Senator Bam Aquino
- Senator Alan Peter Cayetano
- Senator Pia Cayetano
- Senator Bato dela Rosa
- Senator JV Ejercito
- Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada
- Senator Win Gatchalian
- Senator Bong Go
- Senator Lito Lapid
- Senator Rodante Marcoleta
- Senator Imee Marcos
- Senator Robinhood Padilla
- Senator Kiko Pangilinan
- Senator Tito Sotto
- Senator Erwin Tulfo
- Senator Raffy Tulfo
- Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva
- Senator Camille Villar
- Senator Mark Villar
Meanwhile, the five senators who voted for Sotto were:
- Senator Chiz Escudero
- Senator Risa Hontiveros
- Senator Panfilo Lacson
- Senator Loren Legarda
- Senator Migz Zubiri
Senator Kiko Pangilinan clarified his vote for Escudero, despite Sotto being the uncle of his wife, actress Sharon Cuneta. Pangilinan cited strategic reasons aligned with his legislative priorities.
“I’m not a political ally of the administration, but my 15 years experience in the agri and food sector — both in the legislative and executive branches — tells me that only if the executive and the legislative branches work together can we effectively bring down food prices and address hunger and food inflation,” Pangilinan explained.
In his acceptance speech, Escudero expressed gratitude to his colleagues and emphasized the importance of collective leadership in the Senate:
“The direction we will take will never be determined by a single hand, much less my hand, but by 24 heads—each with a mandate, each with a mind, each with a voice that matters,” Escudero said.
He added:
“This is a collective body, and its strength lies in the balance, not in the banging, of that gavel.”
Escudero also urged unity among senators despite differences in political beliefs and policy positions.
Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada was re-elected as Senate President Pro Tempore.
During the session, Estrada requested to be accompanied by his brother, Senator JV Ejercito, highlighting a symbolic moment amid their long-standing family tensions involving their father, former President and former Manila and San Juan Mayor Joseph Estrada.
Senator Joel Villanueva was also elected Senate Majority Floor Leader and will concurrently serve as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules.
However, both Escudero and Villanueva were recently linked to alleged ₱142.7-billion questionable insertions in the proposed 2025 national budget.
Senators Sotto and Lacson have called for an investigation into the matter.