MANILA – Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was elected Senate president on Monday after securing the support of 15 senators, unseating Francis “Chiz” Escudero less than two months since his reelection as chamber leader.

“I was told that I have 15 signatures,” Sotto earlier told reporters, confirming he had gathered enough backing to clinch the post. The Senate has 24 members, with 13 votes needed to elect a new president.

Sotto, who previously served as Senate president from 2018 to 2022, was administered the oath of office by Escudero himself. The ousted Senate chief has yet to issue a statement on the leadership change.

In his acceptance speech, Sotto said he was “deeply humbled and sincerely grateful” to his colleagues for giving him the opportunity to again lead the chamber “at this crucial and challenging time.”

“Our people are enraged of the corruption. Corruption that is now seen, heard and felt by the Filipinos more than ever,” he said, citing failed flood control projects, dilapidated classrooms, and the lack of farm-to-market roads as examples of programs hindered by irregularities.

He recalled the Senate’s stance under his leadership in 2018 when it opposed the unconstitutional realignments in the 2019 budget amounting to P75 billion, which were later vetoed by the President, and how strict scrutiny of the budget paved the way for funding free tertiary education.

Sotto vowed to keep the Senate “cooperative but independent, balanced, transparent and sincere,” adding that he considers himself “first among equals.”

“You have gifted me the honor of being your Senate President the second time around. To reiterate my statement from my previous election, I did not become your superior, I am simply a presider of your session,” he said.

The new Senate chief also thanked his family, especially his wife Helen, for their support, and ended his speech with a prayer for guidance and protection for the institution and the country.