Despite recent issues surrounding the Senate and the House of Representatives, both chambers of Congress opened their second regular session with no changes in leadership on Monday, just hours ahead of the State of the Nation Address.

In the upper house, the Senate commenced the second regular session of the 19th Congress on Monday. Juan Miguel Zubiri continued as its leader, banging the gavel to mark its official start. House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, on the other hand, presided over the first session day of the second regular session, which was attended by 311 lawmakers.

Neither chamber’s leadership has changed despite recent issues such as accusing former President and now Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of staging a coup against Romualdez, while Senate President Zubiri has been the target of coup rumors since becoming Senate President, allegedly due to the Senate’s inefficiency and his unpopular stance on constitutional reform.

Arroyo was removed as senior deputy speaker on May 17, 2023, and replaced by former deputy speaker, Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales. She refuted the allegations of staging a coup against speaker Romualdez saying that her actions have been misconstrued.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who was rumored to succeed Zubiri, also denied rumors of a coup in the upper chamber. Instead, he and his colleagues overwhelmingly chose Zubiri to serve for another term as Senate President.

Photo: Philippine News Agency