Daven Tamayo

Escudero 'unbothered' by Tito Sotto's remark on Senate presidency

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17472953175191747295315444.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Senate President Tito Sotto and current SP Sen. Chiz Escudero. Senate PRIB/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Senate President Tito Sotto and current SP Sen. Chiz Escudero. <em>Senate PRIB/File</em> </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday said he was unbothered by the pronouncement of Tito Sotto, who is poised for a Senate comeback, that he was open to being the Senate chief in 20th Congress if there are numbers to support him.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/14/sotto-willing-to-accept-senate-presidency-if-there-are-enough-numbers-1428">Sotto willing to accept Senate Presidency if there are &#x27;enough numbers&#x27;</a></div><p>&quot;Katatapos lang ng eleksyon at bangayan at ingay, sisimulan nyo na naman agad. Palipasin nyo naman. Tapusin muna natin itong kongresong to. May dalawa pa kaming linggo na marami pa kaming inaasahang, mapapasa at maihahabol na mga panukalang batas,&quot; Escudero said.</p><p>&quot;Doon muna kami nakatutok at hindi yung parating na kongreso,&quot; he added.</p><p>Sotto was Senate President from May 2018 until the end of his second term as senator in June 2022.</p><p>Escudero thanked Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada who expressed preference for him to keep the Senate&#x27;s helm.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s not a question of hoping, it&#x27;s a question of reality. Ulitin ko, ang Senate President dapat may kumpiyansa ng mahigit na mayorya ng Senado,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/20/zubiri-steps-down-escudero-is-new-senate-president-1729">Zubiri steps down; Escudero is new Senate President</a></div><p>A senator needs the support of at least 13 senators to become Senate president. As the Senate is a continuing body, Escudero keeps his post past the 19th Congress unless and until another senator musters the nod of 13 of the 24-person Senate.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qV7AI1vTNDM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Chiz Escudero said he was unbothered by the pronouncement of Tito Sotto about the possibility of being the Senate President in the next Congress.</p>

Sen. Chiz Escudero said he was unbothered by the pronouncement of Tito Sotto about the possibility of being the Senate President in the next Congress.