Majority in Senate eye leadership shift, says Lacson

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-elect Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Saturday said a majority of senators are pushing for an “independent, credible, and transparent” Senate leadership in the 20th Congress.

Lacson made the statement following his proclamation at the Manila Hotel Tent City.

“Our aim is to have an independent, credible and transparent Senate — the 20th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines,” Lacson told reporters.

“Whoever is supported [for the leadership], we need to be independent, we need to be transparent, and we need to be competent,” he added in Filipino.

When asked how many senators he had spoken with, Lacson replied, “I lost track … at least 13,” noting that he spoke with them individually. He said the group includes both incoming and incumbent senators.

Pressed on whether this indicates a move to replace incumbent Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Lacson said: “I’m not saying that. The Senate is collegial — it’s a collective decision. Thirteen votes will result in a change of leadership because that’s what the rules say. If only 12 [senators support it], then the current leader stays.”

On Friday, former Senate President and senator-elect Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said some members of the upper chamber had approached him about possibly returning to the top post in the Senate.

Lacson and Sotto were running mates in the 2022 national elections, vying for president and vice president, respectively.