Sotto gets 15 votes to oust Chiz as Senate head
MANILA, Philippines — As flood control anomalies continue to stir anger nationwide, the Senate yesterday unseated its top leaders.
Sen. Francis Escudero lost the Senate presidency, while Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada were forced to step down as majority leader and president pro tempore, respectively, in a leadership coup launched by their colleagues ostensibly to stop the chamber’s credibility crisis.
Replacing Escudero is former minority leader Vicente Sotto III who, less than two months ago, lost the Senate presidency race as the 20th Congress opened.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who has been leading exposés on flood control in the chamber, was elected Senate president pro tempore, while deputy minority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri was elected majority leader.
Last night, Sotto confirmed the appointment of Lacson as Blue Ribbon chair, replacing Rodante Marcoleta.
Speaking from Cambodia, President Marcos relayed his message of support for the new Senate leadership.
The leadership overhaul came after weeks of intensifying scrutiny of alleged kickbacks in flood control projects, which triggered anger among Filipinos battered by recent floods.
Sotto stood unopposed for the top Senate post. The presidency of the chamber was simply declared vacant, with no one opposing the move.
Escudero and Villanueva were ousted amid controversies over the national budget and campaign contributions. A VERA Files report earlier said Escudero had budget insertions worth P142.7 billion and that he channeled billions to his allies’ bailiwicks, with Bulacan – Villanueva’s home province – receiving the lion’s share with P12.08 billion.
Escudero also declared a P30-million campaign donation from Lawrence Lubiano of Centerways Construction, a firm flagged for cornering Department of Public Works and Highways flood control projects. Villanueva, meanwhile, reported P20-million donation from New San Jose Builders Inc., which held government deals when the donation was made despite his denial.
These disclosures, resurfacing amid public fury over flood control anomalies, sharpened calls for accountability and set the stage for their dramatic removal.
Sen. JV Ejercito, who was among the senators who voted for Sotto, said that while he remained satisfied with how Escudero and Villanueva had been running the chamber, the backlash they had been receiving had spilled over to the rest of the chamber.
“I’m satisfied,” he said, referring to the performance of Escudero and Villanueva. “But the mudslinging between the two houses (of Congress) had worsened. It has affected the institutions already. The issues against Sen. Chiz and Sen. Joel – they’re part of the demolition job but it’s already affecting the Senate and we need to save the institution,” Ejercito told reporters.
In his acceptance speech, Sotto stressed that the new Senate leadership would focus on stemming corruption, saying the entire government is now perceived to be corrupt.
“Our people are enraged at the corruption. Corruption that is now seen, heard and felt by the Filipinos more than ever. The failed flood control projects that are supposed to protect the lives, livelihood and properties of our countrymen, the dilapidated classrooms for our students and the lack of quality farm-to-market roads to aid our farmers, all are engulfed in corruption, hindering the progress of the nation as a whole,” Sotto said.
“Corruption is now perceived by our people to be in the whole of government. But with the political will of those in position and together with the vigilance and clamor from the public, we can fight this and bring transparency and true accountability that our nation deserves,” he added.
The Senate majority has yet to release the resolution signed by 15 senators, including Sotto, for the leadership overhaul.
It was also not yet clear whether the shakeup would result in changes in committee chairmanships already finalized weeks after the 20th Congress opened session.
In Phnom Penh, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Marcos supports the leadership change in the Senate, as she emphasized his respect for the separation of powers between the Executive and Legislative branches.
In an interview, Castro said it is the prerogative of the members of the Senate to choose their leader.
“The President said he cannot interfere with what the senators want, who they want to lead, that is their choice, so whoever the senators choose now as their leader or president, the President will support that,” Castro said.
Asked if the leadership shakeup could potentially lead to “political chaos” amid numerous controversies, Castro said this was not the first time the Senate president has been replaced.
“There have also been changes in leadership before and there have been no problems, the members have accepted whatever decisions they have made,” the Palace official said.
Speaker Martin Romualdez extended his congratulations to Sotto, whom he praised for steady leadership.
“I congratulate Senate President Sotto on once again being entrusted by his peers to lead the Senate. His long years of service, his experience and his steady leadership will surely guide the Upper Chamber in these challenging times,” he said in a statement.
“The House of Representatives is eager to work side by side with him and our colleagues in the Senate,” the administration stalwart, who is also president of the ruling Lakas-CMD political party, added.
“In these times, unity between the Senate and the House is urgently needed so we can uplift the lives of the people,” he said in Filipino.
“With Senate President Sotto at the helm, I am confident that Congress will remain a strong partner of President Marcos in delivering reforms and building a Bagong Pilipinas,” he said.
While Escudero had been vocal against Romualdez – a first cousin of the President – specifically on the issue of budget insertions, the latter has been generally silent. — Delon Porcalla, Helen Flores