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Senator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero takes his oath as the new Senate President on May 20, 2024.   Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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SENATE PRESIDENT

Rowegie Abanto

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/175247973522220240520-senate-leadership-escudero-MD9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Sen. Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> — Sen. Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero on Monday retained his position as Senate president in the race against Sen. Vicente &quot;Tito&quot; Sotto III during the opening of the 20th Congress. </p><p>Nineteen senators elected Escudero to a second term as Senate president, while five supported Sotto, who held the post under the Duterte administration.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/hontiveros-to-join-emerging-sotto-led-senate-minority-1006">Hontiveros to join Sotto bloc</a></div><p>In a speech after his election, Escudero urges his colleagues to &quot;choose to listen more, not to shout louder, to disagree without being disagreeable, to always be respectful, and to respect each other’s opinions.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Hiling at panawagan ko sa mga kapwa ko senador: magtrabaho tayo sa kabila ng ingay ng pulitika. Dahil lahat tayo, nasa iisang bangka. At isang direksyon lamang ang ating tinatahak: tungo sa pagkamit ng mga pangarap, hangarin, mithiin, at layunin ng ating mga kababayan,&quot; Escudero added.</p><div><iframe width="1250" height="703" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zsZ1T0hsLvA" title="LIVE: State of the Nation Address 2025 | ANC Special Coverage" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Escudero was first elected Senate president in May 2024 in a leadership change against then Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri during the 19th Congress. </p><p>Escudero continued to hold the powerful position despite criticisms of how he had handled the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>The Philippine Senate briefly convened an impeachment court last month, only to send the case back to the House of Representatives hours later, questioning its constitutionality.</p><p>Just days before the Senate opened its new session with the vice president&#x27;s political future hanging in the balance, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/25/supreme-court-duterte-impeachment-articles-unconstitutional-1601">the Supreme Court on Friday blocked Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial</a>, saying it violated a constitutional provision against multiple impeachment proceedings within a single year. </p><p>&quot;During a time when our institution was under attack because of conflicting views on impeachment, he (Escudero) stood his ground and guided the Senate in the right direction,” Sen. Joel Villanueva said in nominating Escudero for a second term. </p><p>“Napakarami pong sinalag ni Senator Escudero para protektahan ang Senado. Hindi madaling harapin ang mga mapanghusgang mga komento, masasakit na mga batikos ng ilang mga kritiko, at minsa’y mga ‘below the belt’ na pag-atake lalo na sa social media, pero hinarapniya ito nang may tapang subalit sa paraang mahinahon, matalino, at marespeto,&quot; Villanueva continuyed. </p><p>&quot;At sa inalabas na desisyon ng Korte Supreme tungkol sa impeachment, ang tanong: Hindi pa po ba klaro na tama ang landas kung saan dinala ni Senator Escudero ang buong Senado?  Hindi po tayo nagmadali, hindi rin naman natin inupuan ang impeachment subalit sa isangsama-samang desisyong binigyang-gabay ng ating SP, napanatili natin ang “moral high ground” ng Senado,&quot; he added. </p><p>Villanueva&#x27;s nomination of Escudero was seconded by Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Ronald dela Rosa and Raffy Tulfo.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/27/house-to-seek-reversal-of-sc-ruling-on-vp-sara-impeachment-1336">House to seek reversal of SC ruling on VP Sara impeachment</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/8/sws-most-pinoys-disagree-with-impeachment-complaint-vs-sara-duterte-1817">SWS: 4 in 10 disagree with impeachment complaint vs Sara Duterte</a></div><p>&quot;Senator Chiz has more than lived up to his name, safeguarding the Senate. In Senate President Escudero, we find exactly a leader who stands firmly at the forefront, ensuring that amid political fires, the Senate remains to be a body of still water that runs deep, reflective of the views and interests of the people,&quot; Dela Rosa said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATE MINORITY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Escudero&#x27;s main challenger Sotto is coming back to the chamber after ending his previous Senate term in 2022. He was nominated by Zubiri, whom Escudero ousted last year. </p><p>Traditionally, the runner up in the Senate Presidential Election automatically becomes Minority leader. The Minority Leader&#x27;s voters form the minority bloc, and the voters of the Senate President make up the new Majority.</p><p>Zubiri said Sotto is “a tried and tested leader of this august chamber, a workhorse like no other, and a man who can strengthen public trust in this institution in even the most turbulent time. </p><p>&quot;Senator Sotto was a traditionalist in the very best sense, protecting the Senate’s standing and legacy as the nation’s last bastion of democracy,&quot; Zubiri added.</p><p>Sen. Loren Legarda seconded Zubiri&#x27;s nomination of Sotto.</p><p>Escudero and Sotto voted for each other, in keeping with a tradition of statesmanship.</p><p>Other top Senate officials were also elected.</p><p>Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who presided over the Senate Presidential Elections, was re-elected Senate President Pro Tempore. He was nominated by Dela Rosa. Estrada&#x27;s brother Ejercito joined Estrada&#x27;s family for the latter&#x27;s oath-taking.</p><p>Sen. Joel Villanueva was elected chairperson of the Senate Committee on Rules and will serve as Majority Leader of the Senate. He was nominated by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.</p><p>Atty. Renato Bantug, Jr. was elected Senate Secretary.</p><p>Retired PMGEN Mau Aplasca was also elected as the new Sergeant-At-Arms of the Senate. Aplasca was Sergeant-At-Arms of the House of Representatives under then Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.</p><p>Escudero&#x27;s reelection as Senate chief comes hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) later Monday at the Batasang Pambansa.</p><p>The president is expected to address various issues, including his priority bills, as he enters the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/13/marcos-jr-tapped-tobacco-pr-vet-in-palace-s-last-shot-at-a-legacy-political-strategist-1256">second half of his term</a>.</p><p>Many also anticipate whether or not Marcos will mention his former ally&#x27;s impeachment case, although he has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd7RtZVJZ5w">distanced himself from it in past statements</a>.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</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/Df9cXtAn0MU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The incumbent bests one of his predecessors in the Senate presidential elections of the 20th Congress.</p>

The incumbent bests one of his predecessors in the Senate presidential elections of the 20th Congress.

Escudero keeps Senate presidency; Sotto is minority leader

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Escudero keeps Senate presidency; Sotto is minority leader

Rowegie Abanto,

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 28, 2025 10:43 AM PHT

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Updated July 28, 2025 12:04 PM PHT

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