Photo courtesy: Senate of the Philippines
Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has replaced Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero after securing the support of a majority of senators to reclaim the Senate presidency, multiple news outlets reported on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025.
Sotto said at least 15 out of 24 senators backed the leadership change. According to Rappler, senators who supported the change are: Sotto, Bam Aquino, Pia Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Win Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Ping Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Kiko Pangilinan, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Sen. Zubiri moved to declare the Senate presidency vacant, a motion approved without opposition, before nominating Sotto to lead the chamber.
Sotto said he and Escudero discussed the matter prior to the vote, which was finalized only on Monday morning.
“He was very magnanimous,” Sotto said of Escudero.
Sotto added that senators had raised concerns with the current leadership, though these did not include flood control projects, which have been the subject of Senate investigations. He noted that discussions on reorganizing the leadership began weeks ago.
Under the new setup, Lacson will serve as Senate president pro tempore, Zubiri will become majority leader, and Hontiveros will join the majority bloc, said Sotto.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would not interfere with the Senate shakeup.
“Sabi ng Pangulo, hindi naman siya pwede mangialam sa kung anong gusto ng mga senador, choice nila ‘yan. Kung sinong mapipili ngayon ng mga senador bilang kanilang leader or president, susuportahan ‘yan ng Pangulo,” Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said.
When asked whether the shift could cause political instability, Castro said changes in leadership were not unusual.
“Marami nang naganap na pagpapalitan ng liderato at hindi nagkaroon ng problema, tinanggap naman ng mga miyembro kung ano ang desisyon,” Castro said.