Photo from SCOUT Magazine

By AJ Alarcon

Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday, September 8, reclaimed the Senate presidency during the chamber’s plenary session, replacing Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who was unseated following a probe into controversial government flood control projects allegedly linked to his campaign’s top donor.

The motion to declare Escudero’s post vacant was initiated by Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, and passed without opposition. 

Zubiri then nominated Sotto for the position, with no other contenders put forward.

Sotto reportedly garnered the support of 15 senators, exceeding the 13 votes required to secure the majority. 

Those who signed in favor of his election are as follows:

• Sen. Tito Sotto 
• Sen. Bam Aquino
• Sen. Pia Cayetano
• Sen. JV Ejercito
• Sen. Win Gatchalian
• Sen. Risa Hontiveros
• Sen. Ping Lacson
• Sen. Lito Lapid
• Sen. Loren Legarda
• Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
• Sen. Raffy Tulfo
• Sen. Erwin Tulfo
• Sen. Mark Villar
• Sen. Camille Villar
• Sen. Migz Zubiri

In his acceptance speech, Sotto thanked his colleagues for renewing their trust in him. 

“You have gifted me the honor of being your Senate President the second time around,” he said, emphasizing that he is not a superior, but a presider of the sessions. 

He vowed to keep the Senate “cooperative but independent, balanced, transparent, and sincere.”

Alongside Sotto’s return, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, while Zubiri assumed the role of majority leader.

Sotto previously served as Senate President from 2018 to 2022 during the 17th and 18th Congress.