Imee being pushed to be SP too

Senator Imee Marcos on Friday revealed that some of her colleagues in the Senate are wooing her to replace Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Marcos, who earned a fresh six-year term in the recent midterm elections, did not name the said senators or clarify whether the move is going to be pushed through before the end of the 19th Congress.

“Some senators have approached me with the proposal to be their candidate for Senate President,” she said in a statement. 

“Whoever will be elected by our peers, whether it is me or not, there are certain congressional reforms that need to be undertaken,” she added.

Incumbent senators of the 19th Congress are set to resume work on June 2, ahead of the sine die adjournment on June 13. This means they only have six session days left.

Meanwhile, newly elected senators—those who made it to the so-called "Magic 12"—will begin their official duties in July, following the opening of the 20th Congress.

If it is for the 20th Congress, Senator Marcos will be in a three-way race against Senator-elect Vicente “Tito” Sotto, who is also rumored to be courted to replace Escudero, and Escudero himself, who has been the leader of the Senate since May of last year.

Sotto earlier expressed his intent to lead the 24-member chamber once again, a role he previously held during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Without divulging the identities of those urging him to oust Escudero, he said at least three to four senators are convincing him to run.

Escudero, for his part,  previously said he would let the majority decide whether he should retain the post.

To unseat Escudero, who has served as Senate President since May of last year, his challenger would need to secure at least 13 votes from fellow senators.

The Senate President is widely regarded as the most powerful figure in the Senate, which is also the presiding officer and the leader of the majority group.

Under the Constitution, the Senate president is the third in line of succession, after the president and vice president.