Escudero reelected Senate President, Estrada Pro Tempore, Sotto Minority Leader

On Monday, Senator Francis Escudero was reelected as Senate President with 19 votes at the opening session of the 20th Congress.

Escudero emphasized legislative priorities such as lowering goods costs, job creation, education and healthcare reform, climate change mitigation, and national defense during his speech and expressed optimism about working with the minority bloc led by Sen. Vicente Sotto III.

Jinggoy Estrada retained his position as Pro Tempore, while Joel Villanueva was elected as Majority Leader, pledging to promote productive policymaking and protect the Senate's independence.

Vicente Sotto III returned to the Senate and was elected Minority Leader with a bloc of five senators after garnering only five votes for Senate President; he plans to hold regular meetings to coordinate positions on key national issues.

Newly elected senators took their oaths during the ceremonial resolutions ahead of President Marcos Jr.'s SONA, while Ferdinand Martin Romualdez was re-elected as Speaker of the House with 269 votes.

Romualdez's election is expected to reinforce legislative alignment with President Marcos Jr., focusing on social welfare and economic bills to bolster public support for the administration.