Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero is likely to retain leadership of the Senate in the 20th Congress but everything remains fluid, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said on Thursday, June 26.

Cayetano pointed this out as he also disclosed that he will vote for Escudero, saying he was satisfied with the performance of the Senate under his leadership.

“I’m supporting Senate President Escudero. I think maganda ang takbo itong last year, walang perfect kasi na majority, walang perfect na senador, Senate president (I think last year was good, though there is no perfect majority, no perfect senator or Senate president),” Cayetano told reporters in an interview in Taguig City.

“But pagka nakita mong may energy, may vision, may prinsipyo (But you can see there is energy, vision and principle),” he said.

Asked if his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, will also support an Escudero leadership, the senator answered in the affirmative.

“I think so, yes. But kung today ang election or tomorrow, panalo na si Senate President Escudero. Having said that, mahaba pa. Ano pa eh, (it’s still far off. We have until the) fourth week of July),” he pointed out.

“If the election is held today. He has more than 13, kung today is ang election (if the election is held today),” he clarified, also confirming he has talked with Escudero.

But with four weeks to go, Cayetano said it is also likely that alliances can shift.

He said past Senate leadership contests have always shown how this can happen especially until the morning of the formal opening of Congress.

“Until that morning, lahat pwedeng mangyari (any thing can happen),” he said.

“Pwedeng magkaroon ng bagong kandidato, pwedeng magkaroon ng bagong coalition (A new candidate may emerge, a new coalition may be formed),” he pointed out.

Asked if he was approached by Senator-elect Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who is also reportedly gunning for the Senate leadership upon his return to the Upper Chamber, Cayetano said he has yet to talk with the former Senate leader.

“Nagkita lang kami once (we only saw each other once) during the campaign,” he said.

While it would be ideal to have a Senate leader who is a lawyer since the 20th Congress will have to deal with the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte, Cayetano said this may not be necessarily important.

“So far beyond the impeachment, because impeachment is essential and very important, but there are important and urgent matters day by day,” he said.

He also said that while Sen. Imee Marcos has expressed her “availability” as a possible candidate for the Senate presidency, Cayetano said she has not been actively campaigning.

“To be fair to Sen. Imee, hindi siya actively nagka-campaign (she’s not actively campaigning). Pero pag sinabi yung available ka, it doesn’t happen madalas, pero sometimes, nangyayari na yung 12 pupunta sa yo (But when you say you’re available, though it doesn’t happen often, but sometimes, it also happens that 12 senators would go and support you),” he pointed out.

“But I think right now, medyo comfortable yung majority ni Senate President Escudero. Ang question lang is time (Escudero has a comfortable majority. the only question now is the time),” Cayetano said.