MANILA — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday expressed support for Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to continue leading the chamber, but noted that the race for the Senate’s top post remains fluid ahead of the 20th Congress.

“I’m supporting Senate President Escudero. I think maganda ang takbo nitong last year,” Cayetano said in a media interview on June 26.

“Walang perfect na majority, walang perfect na senators or Senate President. ‘Pag nakita mo na may energy, may vision, may prinsipyo [ganoon dapat],” he added.

With about a month left before Congress reopens in late July, Cayetano said Escudero appears to have the numbers to retain his post. However, he emphasized that past Senate leadership contests have shown how quickly alliances can shift.

“Until that morning [start of the 20th Congress], lahat pwedeng mangyari. Pwedeng magkaroon ng bagong kandidato, pwedeng magkaroon ng bagong koalisyon,” he said.

Cayetano said Escudero is the only one who has personally reached out to him about the Senate presidency.

“Y’ung iba, nababasa ko lang [sa balita],” he said.

Amid leadership talks, Cayetano said he is also preparing for a possible shake-up in committee chairmanships as part of the expected reorganization.

“Yung present kong committees marami, so may bibitawan ako. Wala pa naman [akong] tinitingnan exactly, but syempre, y’ung Blue Ribbon, Justice Committee, anything for lawyers, nandyan din ‘yan,” he said.

“Sabi ko lang kay Senate President Escudero, basta lahat ng pang-abogado, available ako. Pero hindi naman parang ‘take it or leave it,’” he added.

Cayetano currently chairs the Senate Committees on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education; Science and Technology; Accounts; and Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

The Senate is expected to finalize its leadership and committee assignments when it opens the 20th Congress in the last week of July.