Ilonggo senator and administration ally Franklin Drilon has been named by his peers as the new Senate President via a 17-6 votes over Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.
Drilon was nominated as the head of senate by Senator Sonny Angara and seconded by Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares, the leading vote-getter in previous elections. Fomer Senate President Enrile was nominated by neophyte Senator Nancy Binay.
“I stand before you honored & humbled by your trust in me. It is a great honor to lead this chamber for the 4th time,” Drilon said in his acceptance speech.
“Now more than ever, we have to work harder to craft laws to have positive impact on lives of Filipinos.”
How the Senate voted
Votes for Enrile
- Franklin Drilon
- Nancy Binay
- Gregorio Honasan
- Tito Sotto
- Jinggoy Estrada
- JV Ejercito
Votes for Drilon
- Juan Ponce Enrile
- Sonny Angara
- Grace Poe Llamanzares
- Loren Legarda
- Nancy Villar
- Koko Pimentel
- Pia Cayetano
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Ralph Recto
- Francis Escudero
- Teofisto Guingona III
- Serge Osmeña III
- Antonio Trillanes IV
- Ramon Revilla Jr
- Bam Aquino
- Lito Lapid
- Bongbong Marcos
Recto was voted Senate President Pro-Tempore while Alan Cayetano installed as Majority Leader. Enrile automatically named as Minority Leader.
This will be the fourth time for Ilonggo Senator to sit as the Senate President. He previously held the position in 2000, 2001-2004 and 2004-2006. He will open the joint session of 16th Congress this afternoon as President PNoy Aquino will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address.
