MANILAkubiwin, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero yesterday laughed off rumors of his possible ouster and a takeover by Sen. Cynthia Villar as his colleagues expressed surprise and dismissed the story outright.
Escudero, who assumed the Senate presidency last May before Congress went on recess, reaffirmed his focus on ensuring the passage of pending priority bills.
“Haha… I don’t comment on rumors,” Escudero told Senate reporters when asked about reports suggesting he might be replaced by Villar. “As I always say, it’s just a rumor until it happens. Let’s focus on our work first.”
Escudero succeeded former Juan Miguel Zubiri as Senate president after securing the support of 15 senators. A simple majority of 13 votes are required for a senator to win the chamber’s presidency.
Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito refuted the likelihood of another change in the Senate leadership.
“The Senate is over, we’re still messing around,” Villar said with a smile when questioned by reporters.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Villar and Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Alan Peter Cayetano belied the reported coup, saying they are satisfied with Escudero’s leadership.
Estrada said no one approached him to sign a purported resolution seeking to replace Escudero. “No one dares to approach me, they know I’ve been supportive of the leadership of Senate President Escudero,” said Estrada.
“It’s nothing, it’s just rumors. That’s just a rumor because so far the performance is OK, I think. Most of the senators are satisfied [and] we have achieved a lot, and there’s a lot that needs to be completed. So I don’t think there’s truth to the rumor,” Ejercito said.
“The Senate is about to adjourn and we’re still messing around,” Villar said.
“If it happens, you’ll see it. When there’s a lot of political... you know there’s a lot of issues in politics today, so when there’s a lot of politics, whether it’s the House or the Senate on impeachment, there’s a lot rumors. But in the end, you will see if there is or not,” Cayetano said.
Dela Rosa denied being asked to sign a statement calling for the ouster of Escudero. He, however, admitted he would sign one if Villar were to replace Escudero.
“If Ma’am Cynthia Villar (will replace) I will join because we are close. We are very close, but there is nothing (call to oust Escudero). When Sen. Villar is (involved) automatically I will support, if that’s true because we’re friends, right? We are very close. Chiz and I are friends too, but no oust effort. I haven’t heard anything,” he said.
A Pilipino Star Ngayon source added that Villar currently has the “solid backing” of 12 senators including Imee Marcos, the Cayetano siblings Alan Peter and Pia, Dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, Bong Go, Robinhood Padilla, Ramon Revilla Jr., Loren Legarda, Zubiri, Villar’s son Mark and Villar herself. The STAR tried to get comment from Marcos, but she was not responding.
As reelectionist senators of the administration in the coming May 2025 elections, Marcos and Sen. Pia Cayetano are also running under the NP with Villar’s daughter, Rep. Camille Villar.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the Senate has the sole power to try and decide all impeachment cases. The senators will be the judges in an impeachment court.
The PSN reported that if the impeachment case against Duterte reaches the Senate this coming weekkubiwin, the “loyal allies” of the Duterte family would sit in the trial as judges.