Senator Chiz Escudero has formally accepted his fate after being unseated as Senate President, following the majority’s decision to replace him with newly-elected Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
In his speech, Escudero expressed gratitude to colleagues who supported his leadership from the 19th Congress up to the first two months of the 20th Congress.
📷: Senate of the Philippines
He also highlighted what he considers achievements of the Senate under his watch, particularly the investigations spearheaded by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee under Senator Rodante Marcoleta into anomalous flood control projects.
“Maski na papaano, sa ilalim po ng aking panunungkulan at sa pangunguna ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, may ilang bagay po tayong nakamit at nagawa, nakapagsalita na ng buong-buo kaninang umaga si Cong. Toby Tiangco at nabanggit lahat ng nais niyang sabihing hindi nasabi sa kabilang KAMARA, nasabi na rin po Ginoong Pangulo ang ‘the name that cannot be mentioned’, ang pangalan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez at Cong. Zaldy Co sa pamamagitan ng paghi-hearing kanina pong hapon,” Escudero said.
Escudero rose to the Senate Presidency in April 2024, after spearheading a coup against then-Senate President Migz Zubiri.
But now, Escudero himself is facing controversy. His name has been dragged into the scandal due to his ties with Lawrence Lubiano, President of Centerways Construction, one of the 15 contractors identified by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as having cornered billions of pesos in flood control projects.