Chiz Escudero remains Senate president in 20th Congress

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero retained his post as the highest ranking official of the upper chamber in the 20th Congress after securing the majority of votes of fellow senators Monday.

Escudero took his oath as the Senate president after garnering 19 votes in the plenary, including that of the so-called “Duterte bloc,” and Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Bam Aquino. 

On the other hand, five senators—-including Escudero, Risa Hontiveros, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Loren Legarda, and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson—-voted in favor of Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada was also reelected as Senate president pro tempore, while Senator Joel Villanueva will serve as the Senate majority leader.

In his speech, Escudero emphasized that the Senate is not his alone to lead and that the direction that the chamber will take will not be determined by a single hand, but of 24 heads. 

“We should not and cannot respond to every comment. We should rise above any anger, resentment, and bitterness we may have. We should move on, move forward, and must continue to do our job,” he said.

“We should not and cannot bow to a mob. We will not be cowed by the shrillest of voices. We will stand up for what is right, what is just, and what is consistent with the Rule of Law and our Constitution. That we disagree does not mean that you are right and I am wrong, or that I am right and you are wrong,” he continued. 

He also called on fellow senators to “trade the colors of our campaigns for the colors of our country” for the sake of the people. 

“In place of the colors that divide us, let us embrace the colors that truly matter. The colors that define who we are as a nation, the colors on the flag that hangs before us,” Escudero said. 

“Isa siyang paalala, hindi tayo nandito para sa sarili nating interes, o sa interes ng isang partido o indibidwal. Isa po siyang paalala na nandito tayo para maglingkod—buong dangal, buong puso, at buong katapatan—para sa ating minamahal na Inang bayan,” he added. 

(It’s a reminder that we are not here for our own interest, or the interest of a party or individual. It’s a reminder that we are to serve— with all honor, with all heart, and with all loyalty— for our beloved country.)

Minority leader

During the session, Zubiri nominated Sotto to be their Minority Floor Leader, which the latter accepted. 

“I have been a good soldier of this august body since 1992. I am always honored by any position entrusted to me by my esteemed colleagues. So I pledge to perform the duties and responsibilities of being the Minority Leader,” Sotto said.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, explained that he decided to vote for Escudero and join the Senate majority in a bid to secure the chairmanship of the Senate committee on agriculture. 

“I am not a political ally of the administration but my 15 years experience in the agri and food sector both in the legislative and executive branches tells me that only if the executive and the legislative branches work together can we effectively bring down food prices and address hunger and food inflation. Nagawa na natin noon at kung magbigay ng buong suporta ang ating Pangulo, magagawa natin ulit ngayon,” Pangilinan said. 

(We’ve done it before and if our President gives us full support, we can do it again now.) 

“In the end, to reassure our voters and supporters, I say that our aligning with the majority does not and will not undermine our ability to remain fiercely independent as a Senator of the Republic.” —AOL, GMA Integrated News