Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III was elected as the new Senate President following the ouster of Senator Francis Escudero due to his alleged involvement in the anomalous flood control projects.

After he lost the top post in the Senate, Escudero said that he understood the decision of the majority and thanked his colleagues for trusting him in the 19th and the first few months of the 20th Congress.

“I serve at the pleasure of the majority and understand and respect the decision of the majority of my colleagues. I hold no grudges. I hold no ill feelings,” he said.

He then proceeded to congratulate Sotto who was elected as his successor.

“I am just here as an ordinary member to serve you in any capacity that I can as part of this chamber,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Sotto also thanked Escudero and his colleagues who trusted him to lead the upper chamber.

"I am deeply humbled and sincerely grateful to the Almighty Father, to Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, who administered my oath today, and to my esteemed colleagues, who reposed their trust and confidence in me and in my capability to again lead this august chamber at this crucial and challenging time," he said.

"As I said before, I will do everything in my capacity to ensure that this Senate will remain cooperative but independent, balanced, transparent and sincere," he added. Robina Asido/DMS