MOMENT: Tito Sotto takes oath as Senate President Pro Tempore — ANC

[0:00] There being no other nominations, I therefore move that we close the period of nomination and proceed with acclamation. [0:08] We therefore close the period of nominations and proceed to the voting for the Senate President Pro Tempore. [0:15] Those who are in favor, say aye. [0:18] Aye. [0:19] Those who are not in favor, say nay. [0:22] The ayes have it. [0:24] Congratulations to our new Senate President Pro Tempore Center, Senator Tito Soto. [0:30] May we proceed, Mr. President, with the oath-taking of the Senate President Pro Tempore. [0:39] Pag-retirement position, Mr. President Pro Tempore Center. [0:53] Cheese. [1:25] Ito ka cheese. [1:46] Oath of office, please repeat after me. [1:59] I, state your name. [2:00] I, Vicente Soto III, having been elected Senate President Pro Tempore, [2:05] having been elected the position of Senate President Pro Tempore, [2:08] do hereby solemnly swear [2:10] do hereby solemnly swear [2:11] that I will well and faithfully discharge [2:13] that I will well and faithfully discharge [2:15] to the best of my abilities [2:16] to the best of my abilities [2:17] the duties of my present position [2:19] the duties of my present position [2:21] and of all others I may hereafter hold [2:23] and of all others I may hereafter hold [2:25] under the Republic of the Philippines [2:27] that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Philippines [2:31] that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Philippines [2:33] that I will obey the laws, legal orders, and decrees [2:39] promulgated by the duly constituted authorities [2:41] promulgated by the duly constituted authorities [2:44] and maintain true faith and allegiance [2:46] and maintain true faith and allegiance [2:48] to the Republic of the Philippines [2:49] to the Republic of the Philippines [2:50] and that I impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily [2:53] and that I impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily [2:56] without mental reservation [2:58] without mental reservation [2:59] or purpose of evasion [3:00] or purpose of evasion [3:01] so help me God [3:01] so help me God [3:02] congratulations sir [3:03] thank you sir [3:03] congratulations [3:04] Mr. President [4:12] if I may be able to take my oath as well as majority leader [4:16] although I have been elected as the chairman of the rules committee [4:19] but I was not able to take my oath the last June 3 meeting [4:23] yes we will administer the oath to the majority leader [4:26] oath of office [4:45] please repeat after me [4:47] I state your name [4:48] I Juan Miguel Zubini [4:50] having been elected to the position of chairperson of the committee on rules [4:54] having been elected to the position of chairperson of the committee on rules [4:58] do hereby solemnly swear [5:00] to hereby solemnly swear [5:01] that I will well and faithfully discharge [5:04] that I will well and faithfully discharge [5:06] to the best of my ability [5:07] to the best of my ability [5:08] the duties of my present position [5:10] the duties of my present position and of all others I may hereafter hold [5:16] under the Republic of the Philippines [5:19] that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Philippines [5:25] that I will obey the laws, legal orders and decrees [5:31] promulgated by the duly constituted authorities [5:36] and remain true faith and allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines [5:39] and remain true faith and allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines [5:42] and that I impose this obligation upon myself or entirely [5:45] and that I impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily [5:48] without mental reservation [5:49] without mental reservation [5:50] or purpose of evasion [5:51] or purpose of evasion [5:52] so help me God [5:53] so help me God [5:53] congratulations [5:54] thank you very much sir [5:55] thank you sir [5:59] election ng committee [6:26] ano? [6:27] chair po? [6:29] election ng committee [6:30] chair po? [6:32] yes [7:05] I have [7:06] do you have the list? [7:07] I don't have the list [7:08] please stop it [7:09] yes Mr. President [7:26] we're about to elect the members of the different committees [7:29] so that we can buckle down to work Mr. President [7:32] but I need just a one minute suspension to get the list from the staff [7:36] one minute suspension [7:37] all right we're witnessing live the Senate session now of the new majority [8:22] the official majority [8:22] what happened so far as Senator Sherwin Gachalian is elected as the new Senate President [8:28] with 13 senators attending today's special Senate session [8:33] the vote was unanimous supported by a quorum [8:37] and that's 13 [8:38] Senator Tito Sot has also been voted Senate President pro tempore [8:43] the Senate leadership impasse is deemed officially over [8:47] also following Senator Alan Peter Cayetano's statement on social media this morning [8:52] acknowledging the chamber's new leadership [8:55] now this morning also saw Senator Joel Villanueva attending the Senate session [9:00] putting to rest earlier apprehensions that the Senate leadership crisis of the past days [9:07] might still derail priority work [9:09] now with that put it behind [9:11] the chamber is pivoting cleanly to legislative business [9:15] clearing a two-week backlog of pending bills [9:19] as well as the ratification of delayed Senate reports [9:23] the plenary is also expected to suspend later today [9:26] as the Commission on Appointment convenes [9:28] this is a special session in fact called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Malacan Young [9:35] saying the Senate has delayed so much priority work [9:41] its urgent mission for now is to work on pending promotions of top military officers [9:46] and that is of course to avoid a leadership vacuum in the armed forces of the Philippines [9:52] now Senate President Sherwin Gachalian [9:54] and House Speaker Faustino D. III have guaranteed a quorum to push the confirmations through [10:01] as they convene on special sessions [10:04] given that both houses are on sine die, on break [10:09] the lower chamber, House of Representatives have also begun its sessions [10:14] we've shown you some clips or part of that live coverage today [10:19] so right now the Senate is taking a one minute break [10:26] to discuss on several matters [10:29] this may include the decisions as to who the new members [10:32] of the various or the different committees will be [10:36] now we'll also be on the watch for other developments [10:40] at the House of Representatives, the lower chamber [10:43] we have news teams covering that for you [10:45] we'll be giving you updates on those developments later on in the program [10:50] while our secretary is still printing out the names of the other members of the committees [11:03] I'd just like to put on record the chairpersons of some of the committees have already been elected in June 3, 2026 [11:09] while our secretary is still printing out the names of the other members of the committees [11:14] I'd just like to put on record the chairpersons of some of the committees have already been elected in June 3, 2026 [11:20] to complete the committee chairmanships and memberships [11:23] I now move to elect the following senators or chairpersons and members of the following committees. [11:27] If I may, Mr. President. [11:29] Go ahead, Majority Leader. [11:31] Mr. President, I move for the Constitution of the Committee on Accountability and Public Officers and Investigations, [11:37] or the Blue Ribbon Committee, to be composed of 17 regular members and three ex-official members, [11:43] reflecting an 11 to 9 majority-minority ratio. [11:47] With the chairperson being elected, which is Senator Irwin Tulfo, [11:52] and with three ex-official members taken into account, I move that all majority members, [11:57] with the exception of one, which is Senator Chise Scudero, [12:01] he requested to be the one, not as a member of the committee, be elected as members of the said committee. [12:07] I further move that all remaining senators who are currently in active discharge of their senatorial functions [12:14] and who are not otherwise designated as ex-official members, [12:17] be elected as regular members, subject to the prescribed membership limit under the rules. [12:22] So move, Mr. President. [12:24] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the motion is approved. [12:28] Yes, just to explain to the public the listening. [12:30] All members, actually 17 members po, membership ng Committee on Accountability and Public Officers and Investigations. [12:42] The Blue Ribbon Committee, ibig po sabihin yan, 17 members plus yung ex-official members which is the Senate President Pro Temp, [12:51] the majority leader, the two deputy majority leaders, the minority leader, and also the deputy minority leader. [12:58] So halos lahat po, sa lahat na nakikinig po sa atin na yung araw na ito, [13:03] halos lahat ng members ng Senado, except for one, ay magiging membro ng Blue Ribbon. [13:10] So we just move today, Mr. President, to state that fact and put on the record. [13:15] So noted. [13:17] Thank you very much, Mr. President. [13:18] And upon the instruction of the Chairperson, Senator Erwin Tulfo, I manifest the designation of Senator Kiko Pangilinan as Vice Chairperson of the said committee. [13:27] Is there any objection? Hearing none, manifestation is noted. [13:31] Mr. President, I would like to also move on the election of members of the Committee on Social Justice on the part of the majority. [13:40] The Chairperson is Senator Erwin Tulfo, the Vice Chairperson is Senator Risa Anteferos, [13:45] and the members are Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Senator Manuel Lito Lapid, and Senator Rafi Tulfo. [13:53] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the motion is approved. [13:58] Mr. President, I move to elect the members of the Committee on Energy. [14:04] The Chairperson being Senator Erwin Tulfo, Vice Chairperson, Senator J.V. Ehercito, [14:10] members, Senator Risa Anteferos, Senator Bam Aquino, Senator Lito Lapid, and Senator Rafi Tulfo. [14:19] We still need two members of the majority. [14:22] I'll wait for the Chairperson to give me the names of the two additional members. [14:25] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the motion is approved. [14:29] Thank you, Mr. President. [14:34] Mr. President, I move that we elect the members of the Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship. [14:40] As Chairperson, Senator Bam Aquino, and as members, Sen. J.V. Ehercito, Sen. Cheese Escudero, Sen. Manuel Lito Lapid, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, and Sen. Rafi Tulfo. [14:57] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the motion is approved. [15:03] Mr. President, I move that we elect the members of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes. [15:09] The Chairperson being Sen. Francis Kiko Pangilinan, and members, Sen. Risa Anteferos, Sen. Ping Laxon, Sen. J.V. Ehercito, Sen. Bam Aquino, Sen. Lito Lapid, and Sen. Cheese Escudero. [15:27] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the motion is approved. [15:32] May I ask for a minute suspension, Mr. President. [15:42] One minute suspension. [15:43] Again, the Senate has taken a one-minute suspension so far. [15:56] We've witnessed the noting of several committee chairmanships, approvals, in fact, by the Senate President, [16:05] starting with the Blue Ribbon Committee, which is chaired by Senator Irwin Tulfo, [16:10] with Senator Miguel Subiri saying all members of the Senate except for one will be part of that committee. [16:17] So that would be 17 plus an ex-official member, with Senator Kiko Pangilinan, also officially installed as vice chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. [16:32] We also heard about the Social Justice Committee, still chaired by Senator Irwin Tulfo, [16:38] and Vice Chair Risa Anteferos. [16:40] Tiberos Committee on Energy, still under Senator Tulfo, and Vice Chair J.V. Ehercito. [16:48] They also appointed chairman or chairpersons for the Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, [16:54] headed by Sen. Bam Aquino, and Constitutional Amendments, headed by Kiko Pangilinan. [17:00] Kiko Pangilinan, the Vice Chairperson being Senator J.V. Ehercito, members, [17:05] Sen. Risa Anteferos, Sen. Bam Aquino, Sen. Lito Lapid, Sen. Irwin Tulfo, Sen. Rafi Tulfo, [17:12] Sen. Chisa Scudero, and Sen. Joel Villanueva. [17:15] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the motion is approved. [17:19] Mr. President, I move that we elect also the members of the Committee on Basic Education, [17:25] the chairperson being Sen. Bam Aquino, members, Sen. J.V. Ehercito, Sen. Risa Anteferos, [17:34] Sen. Lito Lapid, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Sen. Rafi Tulfo, Sen. Irwin Tulfo, and Sen. Joel Villanueva. [17:42] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the motion is approved. [17:46] Mr. President, I also like to move to the Commission on Appointments. [17:52] We'd like to elect Senators Panfilo Lakson, Sen. MIG Subiri, Sen. Joel Villanueva, [18:01] Sen. Risa Anteferos, Sen. Tito Soto, Sen. Rafi Tulfo, and Sen. J.V. Ehercito as members of the Commission on Appointments. [18:10] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the aforementioned Senators are hereby elected. [18:15] Thank you, Mr. President. [18:16] Sen. I would like to also move to elect Senators Bam Aquino, Senators Kiko Pangilinan, [18:22] Sen. Lapid, and Sen. Escudero as members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal. [18:27] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the aforementioned Senators are hereby elected. [18:32] Thank you, Mr. President. May I just ask for another minute's suspension? [18:35] One minute's suspension. [18:36] Now still continuing with the election of chairmanships for various committees at the Senate. [18:51] We heard about the Senate Electoral Tribunal, also a Senate Commission on Appointments. [18:58] Elected Sen. Lakson, Sen. Subiri, Sen. Villanueva, Ontiveros, and Rafi Tulfo, [19:05] as well as J.V. Ehercito as members of that committee. [19:08] We also saw the appointment of Sen. Bam Aquino as head of the Basic Education Committee, [19:15] along with Sen. Ehercito, J.V. Ehercito, and Sen. Risa Ontiveros, [19:20] Constitutional Amendments, headed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan, [19:23] Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, headed by Sen. Bam Aquino. [19:29] The Committee on Energy, headed by Erwin Tulfo and J.V. Ehercito. [19:33] The Committee on Social Justice, with Sen. Erwin Tulfo as chairperson, [19:38] and Sen. Risa Ontiveros as vice chairperson. [19:43] And lastly, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, [19:46] chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo and all the members of the Senate except for one, [19:50] which will be part of that committee, one ex-official member. [19:56] All right? [19:57] With Sen. Tico Pangilina, also the vice chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. [20:02] We've heard some of the appointments today, led by Sen. Sherwin Gachalian, [20:12] who was elected as Senate President.