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Senate of the Philippines
Senado ng Pilipinas
15th Congress of the Philippines

Type
Type Upper house
Term limits 2 terms (12 years)
Leadership
Acting President of the Senate Jinggoy Estrada, UNA
Since June 5, 2013
President of the Senate pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada, UNA
Since July 26, 2010
Majority Leader Tito Sotto, NPC
Since June 6, 2013
Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano,Nacionalista
Since July 26, 2010
Structure
Seats 24 Senators

Political groups
Majority Bloc:
Liberal (4)
UNA (3)
Lakas (2)
Nacionalista (2)
NPC (2)
PDP-Laban (1)
LDP (1)
PRP (1)
Independent (4)
Minority Bloc:
Nacionalista (3)
Lakas (1)
Vacant (1)
Committees See list
Length of term 6 years
Authority Article VI, Constitution of the Philippines
Elections
Voting system Plurality-at-large voting
Last election May 13, 2013
Next election May 9, 2016
Meeting place

GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay
Website
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines (Filipino: Senado ng Pilipinas or "Mataas na Kapulungan ng Pilipinas") is the upper
house of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress; the House of Representatives is the lower house. The
Senate is composed of 24 senators who are elected at-large with the country as one district under plurality-at-large voting.
Senators serve 6-year terms, with half of the senators elected every 3 years to ensure that the Senate is maintained as a
continuous body, though staggered. When the Senate was restored by the 1987 Constitution, the 24 senators who were
elected in 1987 served until 1992. In 1992 the candidates for the Senate obtaining the 12 highest number of votes served
until 1998, while the next 12 served until 1995. Thereafter, each senator elected serves the full 6 years.
Aside from having its concurrence on every bill in order to be passed for the president's signature to become a law, the
Senate is the only body that can concur with treaties, and can try impeachment cases. The Senate Presidency is currently
held by Jinggoy Estradain acting capacity.
Contents
[hide]
1 History
2 Composition
3 Qualifications
4 Organization
5 Powers
6 Current members
o 6.1 Party composition
o 6.2 Blocs
o 6.3 Seating arrangement
7 Committees
8 Seat
9 Prominent Senators
o 9.1 Assumed Philippine Presidency
o 9.2 Other
10 References
11 External links
History[edit]


The post-World-War-II Philippine Senate in 1951:Cipriano P. Primicias, Sr., far left, debates Quintn Paredes, far right. In the middle are Justiniano Montano, Mariano Jess
Cuenco, Enrique B. Magalona, and Francisco Delgado; in the foreground is Edmundo Cea. Deliberations were once held at the Old Congress Building, Manila.
From 1907 to 1916, the Philippine Commission headed by the U.S. Governor-Generalserved as the upper chamber of the
colonial legislature at the same time exercised executive powers. On August 29, 1916 the United States Congress enacted
thePhilippine Autonomy Act or popularly known as the "Jones Law" which paved the way for the creation of a
bicameral Philippine Legislature wherein the Senate served as the upper chamber and while the House of
Representatives as the lower chamber of it. Then Philippine Resident Commissioner Manuel L.
Quezon encouraged SpeakerSergio Osmea to run for the leadership of the Senate, but Osmea preferred to continue
leading the lower house. Quezon then ran for the Senate and becameSenate President for the next 19 years (19161935).
Senators then were elected viasenatorial districts via plurality-at-large voting; each district grouped several provinces and
each elected two senators except for "non-Christian" provinces where theGovernor-General of the Philippines appointed
the senators for the district.
This setup continued until 1935, when the Philippine Independence Act or the "TydingsMcDuffie Act" was provided by
the U.S. Congress which granted the Filipinos the right to frame their own constitution in preparation for their
independence, wherein they established a unicameral National Assembly, effectively abolishing the Senate. Not long after
the adoption of the 1935 Constitution several amendments began to be proposed. By 1938, the National Assembly began
consideration of these proposals, which included restoring the Senate as the upper chamber of Congress. The amendment
of the 1935 Constitution to have a bicameral legislature was approved in 1940 and the first biennial elections for the
restored upper house was held in November 1941. Instead of the old senatorial districts, senators were elected via the
entire country serving as an at-large district, although still under plurality-at-large voting, with voters voting up to eight
candidates, and the eight candidates with the highest number of votes being elected. While the Senate from 1916 to 1935
had exclusive confirmation rights over executive appointments, as part of the compromises that restored the Senate in
1941, the power of confirming executive appointments has been exercised by a jointCommission on
Appointments composed of members of both houses. However, the Senate since its restoration and the independence of
the Philippines in 1946 has the power to ratify treaties.
The Senate finally convened in 1945 and served as the upper chamber of Congress from thereon until the declaration
of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972. which shut down Congress. The Senate was resurrected in 1987
upon the ratification of the 1987 Constitution. However, instead of eight senators being replaced after every election, it
was changed to twelve.
In the Senate, the officers are the Senate President, Senate President pro tempore, Majority Floor Leader, Minority Floor
Leader and the Senate Secretary and the Senate Sergeant at Arms who shall be elected by the Senators from among the
employees and staff of the Senate. Meanwhile, the Senate President, Senate President pro-tempore, the Majority Floor
Leader and the Minority Floor Leader shall be elected by the Senators from among themselves.
Composition[edit]
See also: Philippine senatorial elections


Election results from 1916 to the present. Note that some senators may switch to another party mid-term.
Article VI, Section 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the Senate shall be composed of 24 senators who
shall be elected at-large by the qualified voters of thePhilippines, as may be provided by law.
The composition of the Senate is smaller in number as compared to the House of Representatives. The members of this
chamber are elected at large by the entire electorate. The rationale for this rule intends to make the Senate a training
ground for national leaders and possibly a springboard for the presidency.
It follows also that the Senator, having a national rather than only a district constituency, will have a broader outlook of
the problems of the country, instead of being restricted by narrow viewpoints and interests. With such perspective, the
Senate is likely to be more circumspect, or at least less impulsive, than the House of Representatives.
Senatorial candidates are chosen by the leaders of major political parties or coalitions of parties. The selection process is
not transparent and is done in "backrooms" where much political horse-trading occurs. Thus, the absence of regional or
proportional representation in the Senate exacerbates a top heavy system of governance, with power centralized in Metro
Manila. It has often been suggested that each region of the country should elect its own senator(s) to more properly
represent the people. This will have the effect of flattening the power structure. Regional problems and concerns within a
national view can be addressed more effectively. A senator's performance, accountability, and electability become
meaningful to a more defined and identifiable regional constituency.
The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) composed of three Supreme Court justices and six senators determines election
protests on already-seated senators. There had been three instances where the SET has replaced senators due to election
protests, the last of which was on 2011 when the tribunal awarded the protest of Aquilino Pimentel III against Juan Miguel
Zubiri.
[1]

Qualifications[edit]
The qualifications for membership in the Senate are expressly stated in Section 3, Art. VI of the 1987 Philippine
Constitution as follows:
No person shall be a Senator unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines,
and on the day of the election, is at least 35 years of age, able to read and write, a
registered voter, and a resident of the Philippines for not less than two years
immediately preceding the day of the election.
The age is fixed at 35 and must be possessed on the day of the elections, that is,
when the polls are opened and the votes cast, and not on the day of the
proclamation of the winners by the board of canvassers.
With regard to the residence requirements, it was ruled in the case of Lim v.
Pelaez that it must be the place where one habitually resides and to which he, after
absence, has the intention of returning.
The enumeration laid down by the 1987 Philippine Constitution is exclusive under
the Latin principle of expressio unius est exclusio alterius. This means
that Congress cannot anymore add additional qualifications other than those
provided by the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Organization[edit]
Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, "Congress shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its
regular session...". During this time, the Senate is organized to elect its officers. Specifically, the 1987 Philippine
Constitution provides a definite statement, to it:
The Senate shall elect its President and the House of Representatives its Speaker by a vote of all its respective members.
Each House shall choose such other officers as it may deem necessary.
By virtue of these provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the Senate adopts its own rules, otherwise known as the
"Rules of the Senate." The Rules of the Senate provide the following officers: a President, a President pro tempore, a
Secretary and a Sergeant-at-Arms.
Following this set of officers, the Senate as an institution can then be grouped into the Senate Proper and the Secretariat.
The former belongs exclusively to the members of the Senate as well as its committees, while the latter renders support
services to the members of the Senate.
Powers[edit]
The Senate was modeled upon the United States Senate; the two chambers of Congress have roughly equal powers, and
every bill or resolution that has to go through both houses needs the consent of both chambers before being passed for the
president's signature. Once a bill is defeated in the Senate, it is lost. Once a bill is approved by the Senate onthird reading,
the bill is passed to the House of Representatives, unless an identical bill has also been passed by the lower house. When a
counterpart bill in the lower house is different from the one passed by the Senate, either a bicameral conference committee
is created consisting of members from both chambers of Congress to reconcile the differences, or either chamber may
instead approve the other chamber's version.
While money bills originate in the House of Representatives, the Senate may still propose or concur with amendments.
Only the Senate has the power to approve, via a two-thirds supermajority, or denounce treaties, and the power to try and
convict, via a two-thirds supermajority, an impeached official.
Current members[edit]
Main article: List of members of the 15th Congress of the Philippines
For winners of the 2013 election, see List of senators elected in the Philippine
Senate election, 2013.
Philippines

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Atlas
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V

T

E

Senator Party
Terms
Bloc
Number Starts Ends

Edgardo Angara LDP 2 2007 2013 Majority

Joker Arroyo Lakas 2 2007 2013 Minority

Alan Peter Cayetano Nacionalista 1 2007 2013 Minority

Pia Cayetano Nacionalista 2 2010 2016 Minority

Franklin Drilon Liberal 1 2010 2016 Majority

Jinggoy Estrada UNA 2 2010 2016 Majority

Francis Escudero Independent 1 2007 2013 Majority

Teofisto Guingona III Liberal 1 2010 2016 Majority

Gregorio Honasan UNA 1 2007 2013 Majority

Panfilo Lacson Independent 2 2007 2013 Majority

Lito Lapid Lakas 2 2010 2016 Majority

Loren Legarda NPC 1 2007 2013 Majority

Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. Nacionalista 1 2010 2016 Majority

Sergio Osmea III Independent 1 2010 2016 Majority

Francis Pangilinan Liberal 2 2007 2013 Majority

Aquilino Pimentel III
1
PDP-Laban 1 2011 2013 Majority

Juan Ponce Enrile UNA 2 2010 2016 Majority

Ralph Recto Liberal 1 2010 2016 Majority

Bong Revilla Lakas 2 2010 2016 Majority

Miriam Defensor Santiago PRP 2 2010 2016 Majority

Tito Sotto NPC 1 2010 2016 Majority

Antonio Trillanes IV Nacionalista 1 2007 2013 Minority

Manny Villar Nacionalista 2 2007 2013 Majority

(vacant)
2
2007 2013
^1 Assumed office on August 15, 2011, after winning an election protest against Juan Miguel
Zubiri (independent, formerly Lakas-Kampi, now with PMP/UNA) who had earlier resigned on August 3,
2011.
[2]

^2 Vacancy occurred on June 30, 2010 after the inauguration of Benigno Aquino III (Liberal) as President
of the Philippines.
Party composition[edit]
Party Total %

Nacionalista 5 20.8%

Liberal 4 16.7%

Lakas 3 12.5%

UNA 3 12.5%

NPC 2 8.3%

PDP-Laban 1 4.2%

LDP 1 4.2%

PRP 1 4.2%

Independent 3 12.5%
Total 23 95.8%
Blocs[edit]

Bloc
Total Vacant
Majority Independent Minority
End of previous Congress 16 0 7 23 1
Begin 17 3 3
23 1

August 2, 2010 19
0
4

August 4, 2010 20 3

August 3, 2011
19
22 2

August 15, 2011 1
23 1

August 17, 2011 20 0

September 21, 2012
19
1

September 23, 2012 0 4

Latest voting share 83% 0% 17% 100% 4%

Seating arrangement[edit]
Minority members are italicized.
Osmea Lacson

Pangilinan Lapid Honasan
Legarda Pimentel Trillanes

Drilon Guingona Recto
Villar Marcos
Defensor
Santiago
Escudero Revilla Angara
Arroyo P. Cayetano A.P. Cayetano

Sotto Estrada


Ponce Enrile

Committees[edit]
Further information: List of Philippine Senate committees
At the core of Congress lawmaking, investigative and oversight
functions lies the committee system. This is so because much of the
business of Congress, it has been well said, is done in the
committee. Specific problems, whether local or national in scope,
are initially brought to the forum of congressional committees
where they are subjected to rigid and thorough discussions.
Congressional hearings and investigations on matters dealing with
every field of legislative concern have frequently been conducted
by congressional committees.
To a large extent, therefore, the committee system plays a very
significant role in the legislative process. Congressional responses
and actions vis-a-vis growing national problems and concerns have
considerably relied upon the efficiency and effectiveness of the
committee structure, system and expertise. As pointed out
by Woodrow Wilson regarding the important roles played by
different committees of Congress:
"The House sits, not for serious discussion, but to sanction the conclusions of
the Committees as rapidly as possible. It legislates in its committee rooms; not
by the deliberation of majorities, but by the resolutions of specially-
commissioned minorities; so that it is not far from the truth to say that
Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, while Congress in its
committee rooms is Congress at work."
On the other hand, the merits of Nelson W. Polsby's view with
regard to the importance of the committee system can be well
considered:
"Any proposal that weakens the capabilities of congressional committees
weakens Congress. Congressional committees are the listening posts of
Congress. They accumulate knowledge about the performance of
governmental agencies and about the effects of governmental programs and
performance on private citizens. They provide incentives to members of
Congress to involve themselves in the detailed understanding of governmental
functioning. They provide a basis - virtually the only well institutionalized
basis in the House of Representatives - for understanding and for influencing
public policy."
"The present committee system in the Senate has by far been the product of
strong years of Philippine legislative experience. It draws its strength from the
inherent functions it is mandated to perform, i.e., to assist the Congress in
coming up with well studied legislative policy enactments. Yet the complexity
of problems that our country is currently facing and the growing needs and
demands of our people for a more assertive role on the part of Congress
cannot but require us to assess the effectiveness as well as the responsiveness
of the congressional committee structure and system. In order to survive and
meet the challenges, Congress must adjust to external demands and cope with
internal stresses. It must be pointed out that social, economic, and political
developments generate demands that the legislature pass legislation or take
other action to meet constitutional and public expectations concerning the
general welfare. The continuing rise of unemployment, poverty, economic
depression, scandals, crises and calamities of various kinds, energy problem
and accelerating technological innovations, all intensify pressures upon
Congress. Political or governmental shifts, aggressive presidential leadership,
partisan realignments, and momentous and controversial Supreme Court
rulings, among other things, also drive the congressional workload."
However, the effects of external demands create
interpersonal stresses within Congress, and in the
Senate in particular. For instance, a ballooning
workload (external demand) of some committees has
caused personal or committee scrambles for
jurisdiction (internal stress). Other tensions that may
be considered range from the growth in the member-
ship of various committees, jurisdictional disputes
among several committees, shifts in its personnel,
factional disputes and members shifting attitudes or
norms. Such conflicts surface in recurrent debates
over pay, requisites, committee jurisdictions, rules
scheduling, and budgetary procedures which
necessitate the call for an assessment of the present
structure of the Senate Committee System.
Seat[edit]


The GSIS Building in Pasay, the seat of the Senate.
The Senate currently meets at the GSIS Building
in Pasay. Built on land reclaimed from Manila Bay,
the Senate shares the complex with the Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The Senate previously met at the Old Congress
Building in Manila until May 1997. The Senate
occupied the upper floors while the House of
Representatives occupied the lower floors, with the
National Library at the basement. When the
Congress Building was destroyed in World War II,
Congress met at the Old Japanese Schoolhouse in
Manila; the Senate met at night while the House of
Representatives met at daytime. Congress returned
to the Congress Building on 1950. When
President Ferdinand Marcos dissolved Congress in
1972, he built a new legislative complex in Quezon
City. The unicameral parliament known as
the Batasang Pambansaeventually met there on
1978. With the restoration of the bicameral
legislature on 1987, the House of Representatives
inherited the complex at Quezon City, now called
the Batasang Pambansa Complex, while the Senate
returned to the Congress Building, until the GSIS
Building was finished in May 1997. Thus, the
country's two houses of Congress meet at different
places in Metro Manila.
Prominent Senators[edit]
See also: List of Senators of the Philippines
Assumed Philippine Presidency[edit]
Manuel L. Quezon, 2nd President. Was also the
first Senate President who lobbied for a
nationally-elected senate that was established in
1940.
Jos P. Laurel, 3rd President
Sergio Osmea, 4th President
Manuel Roxas, 5th President
Elpidio Quirino, 6th President
Carlos P. Garcia, 8th President
Ferdinand E. Marcos, 10th President
Joseph Ejercito Estrada, 13th President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 14th President
Benigno Aquino III, 15th President
(Incumbent)
Other[edit]
Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., Marcos-era opposition
leader, husband of 11th President Corazon C.
Aquino and father of incumbent President
Benigno Aquino III.
Pablo Angeles y David, statesman, youngest
Filipino to pass the Bar; pre-World War II,
oppositionist to Pres. Elpidio Quirino
Jose W. Diokno, nationalist, former Secretary
of Justice, Bar topnotcher, founder of the Free
Legal Assistance Group
Teofisto Guingona, Jr., 11th Vice President of
the Philippines
Eva Estrada Kalaw, first woman to be re-
elected senator,
Raul Manglapus, former Minister of Foreign
Affairs and former presidential candidate
Blas Ople, former Director-General of
the International Labour Organization (ILO)
and former Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Cipriano P. Primicias, Sr., statesman, Majority
Floor Leader and Member of The Council of
State, 19531963
Gil J. Puyat, statesman, Senate President
(19671972).
Claro M. Recto, statesman
Jovito Salonga, Three-time top elected senator,
Marcos-era opposition leader, former Chairman
of the Presidential Commission on Good
Government (PCGG).
Vicente Sotto, father of "Press Freedom Law"
Lorenzo Taada, statesman and Marcos-era
opposition leader
Arturo Tolentino, 9th Vice President of the
Philippines
References[edit]
1. ^ Calonzo, Andero (August 11, 2011.). "Pimentel
proclaimed 12th winning senator in '07 polls". GMA
News Online. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
2. ^ "Koko Pimentel cries foul over Senate tribunal
vote". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 15, 2010. Retrieved
July 26, 2010.
External links[edit]
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