A MONTH BEFORE the 20th Congress convenes, prominent members of the higher legislative chamber have started haggling for the third highest elective position in the country — the Senate presidency.
For one, the Senate presidency —which is currently being held by Senator Francis Escudero —has become the most coveted position in case the Senate, acting as impeachment court, rules to expel Vice President Sara Duterte.
Duterte has earlier been impeached by the House of Representatives over alleged corruption, plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., involvement in extrajudicial killings and incitement to insurrection and public disorder.
‘The tussle for the Senate leadership in time for the next Congress is expected to be a three-cornered fight involving Escudero, former Senate President Vicente Sotto III and presidential sister Imee Marcos.’
CONFIDENT ESCUDERO
The tussle for the Senate leadership in time for the next Congress is expected to be a three-cornered fight involving Escudero, former Senate President Vicente Sotto III and presidential sister Imee Marcos. The 20th Congress is scheduled to convene on July 28, 2025.
Escudero abruptly assumed the Senate presidency even before 15 members of the higher chamber could cast their vote to oust Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
In a news article which appeared in various Manila-based daily newspapers, Escudero acknowledged that his current position as the chief lawmaker in the upper chamber could change at any moment.
“It’s not a question of hoping, it’s a question of reality. I repeat, the Senate President needs to have the confidence of more than the majority, more than 14,” a seemingly relaxed Escudero told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino.
COMBACKING TITOSEN
Sotto, has openly expressed interest in securing his previous post when he finally — and officially, starts his historic fifth six-year term as senator.
According to the actor-turned politician, several senators had approached him about being the next Senate president.
“I’d be lying if I said no. Some people have been talking to me. You know me — you all know what I’m like. I’m not the type to go around asking people to sign up and support me. That’s not who I am. I take after the old-timers — very old school,” Sotto said in the vernacular.
“If they have the numbers and they want me to be Senate president, I’ll accept,” he added.
RACING DARK HORSE
For one, a slug fest between Escudero and Sotto in itself is already exciting. But with presidential sister Imee Marcos expressing intent on becoming the first woman to become Senate President.
Sen. Imee, the eldest of three Marcos siblings, has been criticizing her brother’s administration over several national issues, including the arrest and transfer to The Hague of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
However, political pundits shrugged off Imee’s political stance as no more than “an act of deploying Trojan Horse,” a common ploy of the Marcoses since time immemorial.
“Whoever will be elected by our peers, whether it is me or not, there are certain congressional reforms that need to be undertaken. The most important is reform in the budgetary process,” the presidential sister’s press release reads.
“We should also start [with] electoral reforms, including [reforms in the] political [parties], which have become mere tools for personal ambition rather than public interest,” she added.
MARCOS-MARCOS TANDEM
On the assumption Sen. Imee pulls an upset against formidable “fellows,” she won’t just be regarded as the 26th Senate President – but the first woman to hold such a prestigious (and powerful) post in the Philippine Congress.
More than just making history, Sen. Imee’s “assumption” as the 26th Senate President will make her an eligible replacement to Vice President Sara Duterte if the Senate, acting as impeachment court, would hand down a guilty verdict that would merit her expulsion and perpetual disqualification from holding elective or appointive government position.
Hence, a Marcos-Marcos administration.