Manila, July 28 -- Senator Francis Escudero on Monday retained his position as Senate President after earning 19 votes during the opening of the 20th Congress at the Senate plenary in Pasay City.

The Senate's inaugural session saw the reelection of key leaders, including Senator Jinggoy Estrada as Senate President Pro Tempore and Senator Joel Villanueva as Senate Majority Leader and chairperson of the Committee on Rules.

Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who returned to the upper chamber after winning a fresh mandate in the May polls, was elected Senate Minority Leader with five votes. He will lead a minority bloc composed of Senators Panfilo Lacson, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda, and Risa Hontiveros.

The session also incl...