JV Ejercito, Joel Villanueva elected Senate Deputy Majority Floor Leaders — ANC

[0:00] So, and I'd just like to reiterate the election of the JBC representatives pursuant to Article 8, Section 8 of the Constitution. [0:09] I move to elect Senator Francis Pangilinan as the Senate representative to the Judicial and Bar Council, Vice Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. [0:18] Is there any objection? Hearing none, Senator Francis Pangilinan is hereby elected to the JBC. [0:25] Mr. President, I move that we elect, or rather, I move that we retain Senator Joel Villanueva as chairperson of the Committee on Higher Education. [0:36] And his vice chairman will be Senator Ejercito, members Senator Bamakino, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Senator Rafi Tulfo, and Senator Scudero. [0:45] Is there any objection? Hearing none, motion is approved. [0:48] And I'd like to make a correction. In the Committee on Games, it's not Senator Rafi Tulfo who's the vice chairperson. [0:54] It is Senator Erwin Tulfo. My apologies to the chairperson. [1:00] As regards to the CA membership, Mr. President, for the record, that this representation and that of Senator Soto, our vice, [1:11] we replace Senators Lito Lapid and Senator Mark Villar, respectively, for the record, Mr. President. [1:16] So noted. [1:19] Mr. President, we'd like to also elect the members of the Committee on Labor, [1:23] Chairperson, Senator Joel Villanueva, Vice Chairperson, Senator J.V. Ejercito, [1:28] and members, Senator Rafi Tulfo, Senator Irwin Tulfo, Senator Bamakino, Senator Risa Ontiveros, Senator Pangilinan, and Senator Escudero. [1:38] Is there any objection? Hearing none, motion is approved. [1:42] And Mr. President, I move to formally elect as well my Deputy Majority Floor Leaders. [1:48] We'd like to elect and move to elect Senators J.V. Ejercito as my Senior Deputy Majority Leader who one day in the near future will become the Majority Leader, [2:01] I hope, after his job in the Finance Committee and this representation will just retire. [2:07] Also, we'd like to also elect, Mr. President, our former Majority Leader, Senator Joel Villanueva, as Deputy Majority Floor Leader. [2:17] Is there any objection? Hearing none, motion is approved. [2:20] Thank you very much, Mr. President. May I ask for another minute's suspension? [2:22] Session suspended. [2:23] All right, we're still covering the Senate Special Session for you with Senators filling various committee chairmanships and memberships. [2:54] This, of course, follows the election of Senator Sherwin Gachalian as the new Senate President was installed by 13 Senators in today's special session. [3:04] So far, we've heard some of the committee chairmanships given to Senator Irwin Tulfo, who is heading the Senate Blue Ribbon, [3:12] the Social Justice and Energy Committee, Senator Bam Aquino for Trade, Basic Education, and Science and Technology. [3:18] We also saw Senator Francis Panguilin taking on constitutional amendments, agriculture, and the Committee on Justice. [3:29] Senator Juan Miguel Subiri still keeps his Foreign Relations Committee, [3:34] while Senator Vicente Soto III is Head of National Defense and Ethics, [3:40] Senator Santiveros' Committee on Women and Children, [3:43] Senator Panfilo Lacson, Committee on Ways and Means, [3:46] Senator Lito Lapid, Committee on Games and Amusement, [3:50] Senator Rafi Tulfo, Committee on Public Services and Migrant Workers, [3:55] and Senator J.B. Ercito for Committee on Local Government. [4:01] May we just ask our members to please proceed to the plenary for a third reading. [4:14] Senator Lito, I move that we consider a third reading several bills, [4:31] printed copies of which have been electronically distributed to the Senators on May 25 and May 26, 2026, [4:41] in compliance with the three-day rule of the Constitution. [4:44] With that, Mr. President, I move to consider a third reading, Senate Bill No. 2092. [4:50] This is the bill declaring Waling-Waling as our national orchid. [4:53] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the consideration of Senate Bill No. 2092 on third reading is in order. [5:03] The Secretary is directed to read the title of the bill. [5:05] And I'm declaring the Waling-Waling Vanda Sanderiana as the national orchid of the Philippines. [5:11] And proceed with the roll call vote. [5:13] GOAL CALL VOTE [5:14] Senator Aquino [5:15] Senator Cayetano Alan [5:17] Senator Cayetano Pia [5:19] Senator De La Rosa [5:21] Senator Ejercito [5:22] Senator Escudero [5:23] Senator Strada [5:25] Senator Go [5:26] Senator Antiveros [5:28] Senator Lacson [5:29] Senator Lapid [5:30] Senator Legarda [5:31] Senator Marcoleta [5:33] Senator Marcos [5:34] Senator Padilla [5:35] Senator Pangilinan [5:37] Senator Soto [5:38] Senator Tulfo Irwin [5:40] Senator Tulfo Rafi [5:41] Senator Villanueva [5:43] Senator Villar [5:44] Camil [5:45] Senator Villar [5:46] Mark [5:46] Senator Zabiri [5:47] Senator President Gachalian [5:49] Yes. [5:51] We have 13 affirmative votes, 0 negative votes, 0 abstention. [5:55] SP No. 2092 is approved on third reading. [5:59] Thank you, Mr. President. [6:01] Mr. President, I move to consider a third reading. [6:03] House Bill No. 6639 is the bill granting Philippine citizenship to Benny Boatwright III. [6:07] I so move. [6:08] Is there any objection? [6:11] Consideration of House Bill No. 6639 on third reading is in order. [6:20] The Secretary is directed. [6:21] And before we proceed with our voting, Mr. President, I would just like to put on record. [6:25] They were here three days straight in the last, before we ended the session. [6:32] And I think they're back into training. [6:34] So I think it's okay that we elect them in a sentia because they deserve it, Mr. President. [6:39] They were here three days before we ended the session. [6:42] Correct. In fairness to them, they were here present physically for three days. [6:46] It's not their fault that their citizenship was not considered last time. [6:52] And I understand that they're now undergoing training and representing the country. [6:58] Yes. [6:58] Senator Tico Panglinan is recognized. [7:00] That is correct, Mr. President. [7:01] They were here, a sponsor of the measure. [7:03] They were here every day and witnessed the proceedings or the lack of proceedings. [7:12] But then we will make arrangements, Mr. President, that when we convene for the sauna or perhaps that week of the sauna, [7:24] that they come and visit us here in Plenary, Mr. President. [7:28] Both Benny Boatwright and Matt Ramos, Mr. President. [7:32] And we take note of that. [7:35] So we move to proceed with the roll call vote, Mr. President. [7:36] The Secretary is directed to read the title of the bill and proceed with the roll call vote. [7:41] An act granting Philippine citizenship to Benny François Boatwright III. [7:46] Roll call vote. [7:47] We have 13 affirmative votes. [8:17] Zero negative votes. [8:19] Zero abstentions. [8:21] House Bill No. 6639 is approved on third reading. [8:24] Thank you, Mr. President. [8:26] Mr. President, I move to consider as well for third reading vote, House Bill No. 6644. [8:32] The bill granted Philippine citizenship to Matthew James Ramos. [8:35] I so move, Mr. President. [8:36] Is there any objection? [8:38] Hearing none, consideration of House Bill No. 6644 on third reading is in order. [8:44] The Secretary is directed to read the title of the bill and proceed with the roll call vote. [8:48] An act granting Philippine citizenship to Matthew James Ramos. [8:51] Roll call vote. [8:54] Now the change in leadership at the Senate now formalized. [8:57] Senator Shireen Gachalian has been formally elected as the new Senate President. [9:02] The Gachalian bloc was able to muster the sufficient numbers after Senator Joel Villanueva attended today's special session to form a quorum of 13. [9:11] Former Senate President Vicente Soto III, meanwhile, was elected Senate President pro tempore, while Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri retained the position of Senate Majority Leader. [9:23] The chairman of the various committees were also elected, including Senator Erwin Tulfo as head of the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee. [9:31] Members of the Commission on Appointments and Senate Electoral Tribunal were also elected. [9:35] Now earlier today, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano conceded the Senate presidency in a social media post hours before Wednesday's special session of Congress. [9:45] Cayetano said he spoke with Senator Joel Villanueva, adding it appears some members of his bloc may be ready to shift support to the Gachalian faction. [9:54] Cayetano assured the public he will not stand in the way of a vote and will hold no grudge against whoever succeeds him. [10:03] But he criticized what he described as Malacanang's involvement in pushing for a leadership change. [10:09] He also raised doubts about the true purpose of today's special session. [10:17] Keep it here on ANC as we keep an eye on the ongoing developments at the special session of Congress. [10:22] More news comes your way on Dateline Philippines.