Tito Sotto replaces Chiz Escudero as Senate President
Sen. Tito Sotto has replaced Sen. Chiz Escudero as the Senate President.
Sotto was sworn in during the Senate plenary session on Sept. 8 after Sen. Migz Zubiri moved to declare the position vacant and nominated the Senate Minority Leader.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson is taking over as Senate Pro Tempore from Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, while Zubiri is the new Senate Majority Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Rules, succeeding Sen. Joel Villanueva.
Before the Monday session, Sotto confirmed in an ambush interview that he would replace Escudero as Senate President after earning 15 votes from fellow senators. Reports about a leadership coup circulated in the morning.
After Escudero administered the new SP's oath, he shook Sotto's hand and thanked his colleagues in a manifestation.
"I serve at the pleasure of the majority and understand and respect the decision of the majority of my colleagues. I hold no grudges, no ill feelings. I congratulate Sotto on his election as Senate President and wish you well," Escudero said.
Sotto previously served as Senate President from 2018 to 2022 during the Duterte administration.
He became a senator in 1992 and served two terms until 2004. He returned to the upper chamber in 2010, and was reelected in 2016.
He ran for vice president in 2022, but lost.
Escudero's leadership
Escudero's leadership has been mired by several issues, including flood control project corruption allegations.
Lawrence Lubiano, Escudero's friend and top campaign contributor, was the president of Centerways Construction and Development Incorporated, one of the top contractors of the flood control projects of the Department of Public Work and Highways.
Lubiano reportedly donated P30 million to Escudero during the 2022 senatorial elections.
At the same time, Lubiano's two brothers Chuck Lubiano and Lester Lubiano, hold positions in Sorsogon, Escudero's bailiwick. Chuck is the Donsol mayor, while Lester is a city councilor of the east district. Escudero endorsed the brothers' local bid.
Escudero also reportedly inserted P142.7 billion in infrastructure projects in the 2025 national budget. According to Vera Files, the biggest insertions were earmarked for Bulacan, Sorsogon, and Davao. Bulacan is among the biggest sites of alleged ghost flood control projects, including a P55 million reinforced concrete river wall in Brgy. Piel in Baliuag.
In the wake of the reports, he accused the House of Representatives of doing a "demolition job."
In June, Escudero also raised the eyebrows of several critics for supposedly not acting on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Some have asked if he was "afraid" of Duterte or is protecting her, especially with his approach toward the word "forthwith" in the impeachment clause of the 1987 Constitution.
On Feb. 5, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte, citing a series of grave allegations, including conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., large-scale corruption, abuse of public funds, and involvement in extrajudicial killings. On the same day after the House's filing, the Senate went to recess without tackling Duterte's impeachment.
It resumed its session on June 2, during which the House's panel of prosecutors was initially scheduled to read the impeachment charges against Duterte. It was moved to June 11 to "allow the Senate to tackle priority legislative measures before the 19th Congress adjourns."
On July 25, Duterte scored a major legal victory when the Supreme Court voided the impeachment complaint against her.
On Aug. 4, the House appealed to the SC to reconsider its decision, with House Speaker Martin Romualdez calling it an "act of duty" but on Aug. 6, the Senate archived the impeachment case against Duterte.