MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will have a new leader after 15 senators ousted Senate President Francis Escudero and installed Sen. Tito Sotto III.

Sotto himself confirmed the change in leadership.

Escudero was replaced as Senate chief just 15 months after he unseated then Senate president Migz Zubiri in May 2024.

Sotto was Senate minority leader prior to his election as Senate president which he previously held from May 2018 to June 2022.

The change in Senate leadership reportedly led to a major shift in groupings.

Sotto's members in the minority group joined him — making them now part of the majority bloc. They were Senators Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, and Zubiri.

Lacson will reportedly be installed as Senate President Pro Tempore while Zubiri will once again be named Senate majority leader, the post he held from 2008 to 2010 and 2018 to 2022.

Sotto ousts Escudero in Senate coup

Escudero will be joined by the so-called "Duterte" senators to form the new minority group composed of Senators Bato Dela Rosa, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, and Robinhood Padilla.

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