Senate Leadership Battle: Chiz Escudero vs Tito Sotto's Competition for the Presidency Position
The Senate presidency of the upcoming 20th Congress of the Philippines is expected to remain with current Senate President Chiz Escudero, according to recent political alignments and expressed support from senators-elect.
Key points supporting Escudero’s likely continuation as Senate President include verbal commitments of support from a majority of the senators-elect, a strong reputation for work ethic and leadership, and the lack of serious opposition or challenge to his leadership so far.
Senator Joel Villanueva, who has spoken informally with many colleagues, confirmed that Escudero enjoys the support of a majority of the senators-elect. The senators' backing is largely due to Escudero's demonstrated leadership style and commitment to the Senate's work.
The timing and context also favour Escudero's retention of the position. With the 20th Congress set to convene in late July and Escudero currently serving as Senate President, there has been no indication of a significant challenge to his leadership thus far.
Regarding committee preferences and alignments, general Senate practice often respects seniority and majority party preferences for leadership roles on committees. This suggests that Escudero’s position as Senate President would be bolstered by the support of key majority senators who typically influence committee leadership and agenda-setting.
Returning senator Tito Sotto is challenging Escudero for the position, but it appears that Sotto, along with the Villars, are likely to join the Senate majority and support Escudero's leadership.
The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has been a topic of debate, with Sotto openly declaring his support for proceeding with the trial. A June survey found that 78% of Filipinos believe that the Vice President should face an impeachment trial. However, the details regarding the Senate presidency race and committee chairmanships for the 20th Congress are still evolving.
Meanwhile, the Villars are under scrutiny due to their family-owned firm, PrimeWater, being investigated by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for a possible conflict of interest involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during Senator Mark Villar's tenure as secretary.
In summary, the Senate presidency for the 20th Congress is being shaped by established political alliances and the broad support for Chiz Escudero among senators, making his retention of the position highly probable.
The upcoming Senate presidency for the 20th Congress of the Philippines is likely to remain with Chiz Escudero, as indicated by the majority of senators-elect's support, his strong work ethic and leadership, and the absence of significant opposition. This expectation is further bolstered by the senators' appreciation of Escudero's leadership style and commitment to the Senate's work, as well as the support from key senators who typically influence committee leadership and agenda-setting.
