Manila, Feb. 2 -- The Senate on Monday elected Mark Llandro Mendoza as its next Senate secretary and retired Air Force Major General Edgardo Rene Samonte as sergeant-at-arms.

In nominating Mendoza, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Senate secretary plays a critical role in overseeing both legislative operations and the welfare of Senate personnel.

"The Senate Secretary carries an outsized burden, overseeing all the affairs of the Senate, from its legislative functions to the welfare of its employees," the nomination speech read.

Mendoza was cited for his extensive experience in government, having served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2016, Secretary General of the House from 2020 to 2022, and ...