Those who backed Sotto’s return as Senate President were Senators Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri and Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson.
SENATE President Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero takes his oath as the 20th Congress opens, joined by wife Heart Evangelista-Escudero and their children. Senator Pia Cayetano administered the oath in a ceremony blending duty and devotion.
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Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero retained his position on Monday as Senate President of the 20th Congress in a head-to-head battle against returning Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Nineteen senators voted in favor of Escudero, who shepherded the chamber in its handling of the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte in the 19th Congress.
Those who voted for Escudero were the Duterte bloc, composed of Senators Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, Mark and Camille Villar.
Senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, who are allied with the previous ruling party, the Liberal Party, also backed Escudero’s reelection bid.
Other senators who voted for Escudero included Joel Villanueva, who nominated him as Senate President, as well as Win Gatchalian and Lito Lapid. Also backing Escudero were sibling senators Pia and Alan Cayetano, Erwin and Raffy Tulfo, Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito.
Meanwhile, those who backed Sotto’s return as Senate President were Senators Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
Sotto and Escudero themselves voted for each other.
Sotto losing the Senate Presidential race means he will now lead the Senate Minority bloc, which Lacson earlier called the “conscience bloc.”
The minority bloc is now composed of Lacson, Legarda, Hontiveros, Zubiri and Sotto himself.
Estrada also kept his post as Senate President Pro Tempore, a position he has held since May of last year.
Villanueva, formerly part of Zubiri’s “Solid 7,” reclaimed his post as Senate Majority Leader after being elected chair of the Senate Committee on Rules.
‘Serve our people’
After swearing his oath as Senate President, Escudero called on his colleagues to rise above political divisions and work together in pursuit of common goals.
“We are here to serve our people — guided by our conscience, driven by our conviction, and emboldened by courage,” he said in his speech.
The Senate leader also urged his colleagues to uphold institutional duty with calm and resolve, especially in an era of social media spectacle and reactive politics.
“We should not and cannot bow to a mob. We will not be cowed by the shrillest of voices,” he said. “We will stand up for what is right, what is just, and what is consistent with the Rule of Law and our Constitution.”
“That we disagree does not mean that you are right and I am wrong, or that I am right and you are wrong. After all, nobody has a monopoly on good ideas, intentions, and plans for the country,” he said. “Nor does anyone have a monopoly on love for our country.”
“Just because I’m not on your side does not necessarily mean that I’m on the wrong side. Let history be the judge of that, for hindsight is always 20/20,” he added.
