Marilyn Cahatol

Senate of the Philippines building in Pasay City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News.

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/175196021167420140421-senate-jc-a01a8476.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senate of the Philippines building in Pasay City.<em> Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News. </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The new emerging majority under Senate President Francis Escudero in the 20th Congress brings together allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, opposition lawmakers who were endorsed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and all the siblings in the chamber, Sen. JV Ejercito said Tuesday. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/7/duterte-bloc-pushes-senate-resolution-for-his-return-to-ph-1724">Duterte bloc pushes Senate resolution for his return to PH</a></div><p>Duterte allies include Senators Bato Dela Rosa, Robinhood Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, and Imee Marcos. </p><p>The lawmakers endorsed by Hontiveros are Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino.  </p><p>Meanwhile, the four sets of sibling-senators include Ejercito and Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano, Raffy and Erwin Tulfo, and Mark and Camille Villar.</p><p>Ejercito noted that it was not uncommon for senators to cross party lines to push for measures that &quot;benefit the Filipino people.&quot; </p><p>&quot;We cross party lines in the Senate as long as I think we look at the issues, we look at the measures that will really be beneficial. Nakakalimutan na natin yung kulay. Naging color, ano na tayo, dapat naging colorblind tayo, and you just have to support if it will benefit the Filipino people,&quot; he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATE PRESIDENCY, DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Ejercito believes Escudero &quot;already has the numbers&quot; to keep the helm of the Senate.</p><p>He estimated Escudero to receive the support of 13 to 16 senators.</p><p>&quot;Pero as they say, hangga&#x27;t hindi pa na-formalize na, hindi pa na nag-start yung first regular session natin. Siguro, pag hindi pa siya na-elect, then kahit may slim, mayroon mga slim possibility, anything can happen. Totoo naman yung yun, but I think at this time, if we&#x27;re to convene tomorrow, si SP Chiz sa magiging ng Senate President,&quot; Ejercito said.</p><p>Ejercito denied that the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte had a bearing on the selection of the next SP.</p><p>&quot;Hindi naman siguro. Siguro ang naging advantage lang ni SP Chiz, because he&#x27;s incumbent... &#x27;Pag ikaw yung nakaupo, already more than, almost half of the senators siyempre kasama mo na. Kaunti na lang ililigawin mo sa mga incoming,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Impeachment, sabi ko nga, ano man ang maging position natin dyan, you just have to go through it. I don&#x27;t think it has a factor in choosing the senators.&quot;</p><p>Ejercito added that Escudero is a consensus builder who talks to each bloc instead of a general caucus. </p><p>&quot;Si SP Chiz siya masabi niya, it&#x27;s more transparent that we deliberate or we debate on the floor. Kasi sabi nga niya, useless din naman tayo mag-caucus... Sabi niya, real time... Sabi niya, &#x27;I would rather bring it on the floor.&#x27;&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/7/estrada-escudero-has-votes-to-keep-senate-presidency-1738">Estrada: Escudero has votes to keep Senate presidency; Marcoleta may get Blue Ribbon</a></div><p>Ejercito expects to be the Senate deputy majority leader, while his brother Estrada is expected to remain Senate President Pro Tempore under Escudero.</p><p>The senator also refuted Sen Migs Zubiri&#x27;s claim that senators do not want to reinstate Sotto to the Senate presidency for being too strict.</p><p>&quot;Hindi naman siguro dahil strict si Senator Sotto, but as far as I can remember, madali naman siya katrabaho,&quot; he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/8/sp-race-tito-sotto-admits-being-too-strict-chiz-vows-to-maintain-productivity-1254">SP race: Tito Sotto admits being &#x27;too strict&#x27;; Chiz vows to maintain &#x27;productivity&#x27;</a></div><p>Ejercito added that the farming out of committee assignments and chairmanships is now at work, in consideration of the senators&#x27; advocacies and knowledge. </p><p>He admitted, however, that committee assignments is a factor in choosing the Senate President.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-bl4izbNW0w?si=6PuHHdg5KEgAu-VG" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p> The new emerging majority under Senate President Francis Escudero in the 20th Congress brings together allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, opposition lawmakers who were endorsed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and all the siblings in the chamber, Sen. JV Ejercito said. </p>

The new emerging majority under Senate President Francis Escudero in the 20th Congress brings together allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, opposition lawmakers who were endorsed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and all the siblings in the chamber, Sen. JV Ejercito said.

Duterte allies, Senate siblings, opposition lawmakers emerge as majority under Escudero: Ejercito

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Duterte allies, Senate siblings, opposition lawmakers emerge as majority under Escudero: Ejercito

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 08, 2025 04:17 PM PHT

Read More:

JV Ejercity

Jinggoy Estrada

Senate

Chiz Escudero

Tito Sotto

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