Senate dumps Escudero

As flood control anomalies continue to stir anger nationwide, the Senate yesterday unseated its top leaders.

- NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

Sen. Francis Escudero lost the Senate presidency, while Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada were forced to step down as majority leader and president pro tempore, respectively, in a leadership coup launched by their colleagues ostensibly to stop the chamber's credibility crisis.

Replacing Escudero is former minority leader Vicente Sotto III who, less than two months ago, lost the Senate presidency race as the 20th Congress opened.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who has been leading exposés on flood control in the chamber, was elected Senate president pro tempore, while deputy minority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri was elected majority leader.

Last night, Sotto confirmed the appointment of Lacson as Blue Ribbon chair, replacing Rodante Marcoleta.

Speaking from Cambodia, President Marcos relayed his message of support for the new Senate leadership.

The leadership overhaul came after weeks of intensifying scrutiny of alleged kickbacks in flood control projects, which triggered anger among Filipinos battered by recent floods.

Sotto stood unopposed for the top Senate post. The presidency of the chamber was simply declared vacant, with no one opposing the move.

Escudero and Villanueva were ousted amid controversies over the national budget and campaign contributions. A VERA Files report earlier said Escudero had budget insertions worth P142.7 billion and that he channeled billions to his allies' bailiwicks, with Bulacan - Villanueva's home province - receiving the lion's share with P12.08 billion.