Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:604px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751880363644173374193711220240924-focap-foru-chiz-escudero-MT15.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senate President Francis Escudero answers questions during a forum with the members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Manila on September 24, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> — Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Monday said Senate President Francis Escudero has more than enough votes to keep the Senate presidency in the 20th Congress.</p><p>&quot;We have enough numbers, more than 13, I suppose. And I think Senate President Chiz Escudero is already secured of having his next term as Senate President,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Probably, we can call it super majority,&quot; he added.  </p><p>Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said that Escudero may already have the numbers to retain the Senate Presidency for now but it was not yet a &quot;done deal.&quot;</p><p>&quot;So, we&#x27;re not saying it&#x27;s a done deal. Although, signature-wise, I think it is. Marami nang pumirma nun. Sa resolution, I think may over 13 na sila. But anything can still happen between now [until] July 28,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OTHER POSITIONS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Estrada also bared potential leaders of the Senate under Escudero&#x27;s next term at the helm of the Senate.</p><p>Estrada said he serves at the pleasure of his colleagues when asked if he will still be Senate President Pro Tempore. </p><p>Estrada added that Senator Joel Villanueva will be the Majority Leader, as he defended their bloc&#x27;s choices for committee chairmanships.</p><p>Zubiri earlier raised issues about the qualifications of those who were given chairmanships, but Estrada defended their choices, which include former Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar for the chairmanship of the Committee on Public Works, former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo for Committee on Social Services, and Senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan for the Committees on Basic Education and Agriculture.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/zubiri-urges-colleagues-to-pick-new-senate-chief-even-if-escudero-has-the-numbers-2346">Zubiri urges colleagues to pick new Senate chief, even if Escudero has the numbers</a></div><p>Aquino and Pangilinan ran and won in the 2025 elections under the banner of the political opposition led by Senator Risa Hontiveros.</p><p>&quot;Eh, dapat din specify niya kung sino. Kasi lahat ng mga committees na inalok, I think qualified,&quot; he said. </p><p>Estrada added that Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is likely going to be Chairman of the Committee on Finance, which is tasked to oversee the Senate version of the annual national budget.</p><p>&quot;Every senator naman can scrutinize the budget. Siguro si, I think si Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is going to head the committee on finance.&quot;</p><p>Estrada also revealed newly elected Senator Rodante Marcoleta may get the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee, formally the Accountability of Public Officers &amp; Investigations. </p><p>&quot;Yun ang balita ko na kukunin ni Sen. Marcoleta yung Blue Ribbon Committee.&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bbywlnGguxg?si=9E7r8207D3J3Y1t4" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Monday said Senate President Francis Escudero has more than enough votes to keep the Senate presidency in the 20th Congress.</p>

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Monday said Senate President Francis Escudero has more than enough votes to keep the Senate presidency in the 20th Congress.

Estrada: Escudero has votes to keep Senate presidency; Marcoleta may get Blue Ribbon

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Estrada: Escudero has votes to keep Senate presidency; Marcoleta may get Blue Ribbon

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 07, 2025 05:38 PM PHT

|

Updated July 07, 2025 06:06 PM PHT

Read More:

Chiz Escudero

Rodante Marcoleta

Jinggoy Estrada

Senate

20th Congress

ABSnews

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