Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said on Friday, May 23 he is confident the current leadership in the Upper Chamber will remain. 

Estrada made the remark in light of recent reports floating that Escudero and returning Sen. Vicente Sotto III are wooing members of the Senate in their bid for the Senate presidency in the upcoming 20th Congress. 

While anything is possible, the senator said he believes Escudero will maintain his leadership of the Senate. 

“Everything is possible, everything is fluid. But we still have one month to talk about things to negotiate, but that is always the scenario whenever a new Congress is about to open,” Estrada said in a phone interview with reporters.

“I’ve been a witness to that and everything is still fluid but I’m confident Senate President Escudero will still retain his position as Senate president,” he pointed out.

Asked why he is confident about it, Estrada declined to elaborate. He also denied Malacañang is involved in the Senate leadership talks. 

He also denied speculations that Sotto has tried to ask for his support. 

“I don’t think Tito Sen (Sotto) will call me because he knows I’m aligned with Chiz, being his Pro Tempore,” he said. 

Estrada denied allegations he is interested to serve as an interim Senate president. 

“I will decline it (if offered). But that’s not true,” he said. 

Another candidate

Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos said some senators have approached me with the proposal to be their candidate for Senate president.

“Some senators have approached me with the proposal to be their candidate for Senate president. Whoever will be elected by our peers, whether it is me or not, there are certain congressional reforms that need to be undertaken,”  Marcos said. 

But for her,  Marcos said what is important is to have a reform in the budgetary process. 

“Tigilan na ang mahiwagang bicam (Let’s put a stop to questionable bicam). The right priorities in spending, considering our recurring fiscal deficits and huge indebtedness,  must be legislated: food security and support to our farmers and fishermen; education; health and truly necessary social services,” she said. 

“Parenthetically, once the Office of the President (OP) has submitted the NEP (National Expenditure Program) to Congress, the power of the purse must be respected.  

She also said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) proposition allowing the President to be an observer during the bicameral conference committee meeting for the 2026 national budget is “infirm and unconstitutional.” 

“We should also start electoral reforms, including political party reforms which have become mere tools for personal ambition rather than the public interest.                                    

“Above all, the Senate as the guardian of national interest must always be upheld; its independence non-negotiable,” she stressed. 

Tulfo brothers still undecided 

Meanwhile, Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo admitted that both Escudero and Sotto have also approached him and have asked for a meeting. 

“But I told them both that we (Sen. Raffy Tulfo) would have to discuss about the matter,” Erwin told reporters in an interview after his oath taking in Quiapo, Manila.

“Last night, Raffy and I talked but we haven’t discerned them yet, so we have not yet decided,” he further said. 

Erwin, however, said he is bound to follow whomever his brother decides to support as Senate president.