Leadership change sweeps Senate as Escudero completes quorum, majority still absent 

With Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s attendance marking 12 senators present, a quorum was declared as the Senate opened its first regular session today, June 3.

Escudero was the only member of the majority bloc present during the session.

Presiding Officer Vicente Sotto III led the proceedings and declared the election of Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Gatchalian will also serve as Acting Senate President, presiding over the plenary amid the absence of Alan Peter Cayetano and other majority bloc members, until a new Senate President is elected. 

The election shall only take place when the number of senators present reaches 13. 

The Senate failed to reach the 13-member quorum required to oust Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, allowing him to retain his seat.

As per Gatchalian, “if this session marks the third time the Senate failed to convene, this already violates the constitution.”

Lawmakers likewise confirmed Police Major General Alfredo Sotto Corpus as Officer of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) upon nomination by Sen. Migz Zubiri, while Ray Bantug Jr. was also appointed as Senate Secretary.

During the session, senators approved the leadership of key standing committees for the 20th Congress.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo is elected as the new chairperson of the Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon) Committee. He is also Chairman of the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare & Rural Development.

Sen. Migz Zubiri will head the Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Rules.

Ejercito was designated as chairperson of the Committee on Finance while Sotto was named chairperson of the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation.

The Committee on Public Order is now headed by Sen. Ping Lacson and Communication on Accounts while the Committee on Public Services is now headed by Sen. Raffy Tulfo.

Elected chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education is Sen. Bam Aquino while Sen. Lito Lapid for the Committee on Games and Amusements.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan is made chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform

The Committee on Health and Demography will be led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

Senator Chiz Escudero remains the committee chairperson for the Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Resettlement.

On July 6, the Senate shall elect an Impeachment Trial Officer for the Impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Currently, the number of Majority and Minority bloc members have not been identified yet as Escudero said in a statement that he is “impartial” on both groups.