Escudero ousted; Sotto back as Senate leader
Following a bombshell hearing on Monday morning about the alleged benefactors in the government’s flood control projects, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero was ousted that afternoon and replaced by Minority Leader and former Senate leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
The change of leadership turned out to be a decorous proceeding which belied the political factors that may have triggered it, as outgoing and incoming leaders of the Senate complimented each other in their remarks which quoted St. Peter, the prophet Jeremiah and other biblical references.
Only Escudero veered briefly from that theme, as the ousted Senate leader referenced a villain from the Harry Potter series when he referred to his counterpart in the House of Representatives as “the name that cannot be mentioned.”
Apart from Escudero’s replacement by Sotto, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada was replaced by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and Majority Leader Joel Villanueva by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri. On Monday night, Sotto also confirmed that Lacson has taken over the leadership of the blue ribbon committee from Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
Monday morning talks
Sotto, the only nominee as Escudero’s replacement, had the support of 14 of his 24 colleagues, including longtime ally Lacson as well as Zubiri and Senators Loren Legarda and Risa Hontiveros.
No vote was conducted in the plenary. But a source confirmed that the others who supported Sotto were Senators JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Lito Lapid, Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, Pia Cayetano, Camille and Mark Villar, and Erwin and Raffy Tulfo.
Those who supported Escudero were Senators Marcoleta, Alan Peter Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Christopher “Bong” Go, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Joel Villanueva.
Amid the revelations at Monday morning’s hearing by the Senate blue ribbon committee, the leadership change in the Senate had already been settled by that time, according to Sotto.
“He was very magnanimous,” the returning Senate leader said of Escudero.
Sotto refused to say how his discussion with Escudero came up, and instead referred the question to his minority allies who are now the majority.
“Better ask the four. They initiated the resolution,” he said.
Issues vs Chiz
According to a Senate source who asked not to be identified in this report, Escudero lost his post because of his stalling the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and his connection with Centerways Construction and Development Inc.—one of the 15 contractors identified by President Marcos that bagged the controversial flood control projects, among other issues.
In a short manifestation at the Senate plenary minutes after his ouster, Escudero thanked his colleagues for their confidence in his leadership during the transition from the 19th to the current 20th Congress.
“I serve at the pleasure of the majority and understand and respect the decision of the majority of my colleagues. I hold no grudges. I hold no ill feelings,” he said.
Escudero maintained that during his three months as Senate leader, the chamber passed a record number of laws that “helped uplift the lives of our countrymen” and did not “shy away from confronting the difficult topics.”
“We conducted hearings that unearthed corruption on a scale rarely seen before. And, in doing so, we remind the public that accountability is not a mere empty rhetoric but a duty that we must all uphold,” he said.
He cited, in particular, the Senate blue ribbon panel’s achievements right until Monday morning, when contractor-spouses Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya linked several lawmakers, including Speaker Martin Romualdez, to their projects. (See related stories on Pages A1 and A2).
Independence
As he reclaimed his old position, Sotto vowed to fight corruption and uphold the Senate’s independence.
“As I said before, I will do everything in my capacity to ensure that this Senate will remain cooperative but independent, balanced, transparent and sincere,” he said in his remarks, as he quoted a verse from the First Book of Peter in the Bible: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve.” —WITH REPORTS FROM CHARIE ABARCA, TINA G. SANTOS AND ZACARIAN SARAO
