Chiz Escudero reelected Senate President

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero was reelected as Senate President of the 20th Congress with 19 votes, defeating Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

Escudero had previously held the position after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri resigned in May last year.

Joel Villanueva was reelected as Senate majority leader, and Jinggoy Estrada as Senate president pro tempore.

Escudero's reelection was supported by a consolidated "supermajority" bloc, including senators from the Duterte bloc, allied with senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan.

The bloc supporting Escudero included Senators Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, Mark and Camille Villar, Win Gatchalian, Lito Lapid, Pia and Alan Cayetano, Erwin and Raffy Tulfo, Jinggoy Estrada, and JV Ejercito.

Senators Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, and Panfilo "Ping" Lacson voted for Sotto.

In his speech, Escudero called for unity and responsibility, prioritizing legislation on cost of goods, job creation, education and healthcare reform, climate change mitigation, and national defense.

He also stated that the Senate must not "bow to a mob" amidst criticism about the delay in Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio's impeachment proceedings.

With Sotto's loss, he will now lead the Senate Minority bloc.