Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Starts Lead of Chamber in 20th Congress
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President will file a bill barring the relatives of public officials from being contractors for government projects.
The senators have voted on who will lead the chamber in the 20th Congress. Escudero managed to remain in his post as the chief of the Senate after getting 19 votes during the election for the Senate presidency.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero remained his post for the 20th Congress after he edged out former Sen. Tito Sotto with 14 votes. Here are the senators who voted for Escudero to remain in the Senate presidency:
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Joel Villanueva
- JV Ejercito
- Win Gatchalian
- Imee Marcos
- Bong Go
- Bato Dela Rosa
- Rodante Marcoleta
- Mark Villar
- Camille Villar
- Raffy Tulfo
- Erwin Tulfo
- Robin Padilla
- Lito Lapid
- Pia Cayetano
- Alan Cayetano
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Bam Aquino
The five (5) senators who voted for Sen. Tito Sotto were senators Loren Legarda, Tito Sotto, Ping Lacson, and Juan Miguel Zubiri who make up the “conscience” or veterans bloc as well as opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros. Sotto is also a former Senate president in the 18th Congress.
The senators are set to gather today and talk about a lot of matters including the goals and plans of the Senate for the 20th Congress. Many of them have previously filed different bills that they wish to pass.
Recently, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero confirmed that he wants the barring of relatives of public officials from being contractors of government projects. Based on a report of GMA News, he wants the kin of public officials of up to 4th degree covered by the measure.
”Para sa akin, klarong conflict of interest ‘yun at hindi dapat pinapahintulutan ‘yun,” Escudero said.
The decision of Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero is in line with the remarks of Pres. Bongbong Marcos that the government will run after corrupt officials of the government. The President, during his recent State of the Nation Address or SONA, asked the corrupt officials if they are not ashamed of themselves as many Filipinos are suffering now.
With regards to the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte which Escudero confirmed may be a part of the topics that they will discuss today. Ahead of the opening of the 20th Congress, the Supreme Court declared the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President “unconstitutional”.
The spokesperson of the Senate, Atty. Regie Tongol, previously said the Senate impeachment court will vote on whether or not to conduct the trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. A Constitutional law expert previously claimed that the Senate may push through with the trial despite the ruling of the Supreme Court.
Recently, after he was elected to remain as the Speaker of the lower chamber in the 20th Congress, House Speaker Martin Romualdez called on the members of the chamber not to bow in silence to the SC ruling.