Estrada confident Escudero will remain as Senate president

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

- BY HANNAH L. TORREGOZA

Estrada made the remark in light of recent reports that are being floated 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 was confident about it, Estrada declined to elaborate. He also denied Malacañang was involved in the Senate leadership talks.

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