Wikipedia

List of presidents of the Senate of the Philippines

The president of the Senate of the Philippines is the presiding officer and the highest-ranking official of the Senate of the Philippines. The Senate president is second in the line of succession to the presidency, after the vice president and before the speaker of the House of Representatives.[1][2]

Manuel L. Quezon was the first and longest-serving president of the Senate.
Camilo Osías served the shortest single term as president of the Senate.
Jovito Salonga was the first post-martial law president of the Senate.
Sherwin Gatchalian is the current president of the Senate.

The office was created in 1916, following the establishment of the Senate to replace the Philippine Commission as the upper house of the bicameral Philippine Legislature. The Senate president is the administrative head of the chamber and the ex officio chairperson of the Commission on Appointments.[3]

The Senate elects a new president by roll call vote when it convenes during the first session of a new Congress, or when the incumbent Senate president dies, resigns, or is removed from office through a leadership coup. A majority of votes cast is required to elect a Senate president.[4] If there is only one nominee for the position, the candidate is elected by acclamation.

Altogether, 27 individuals have served as president of the Senate. The incumbent Senate president is Sherwin Gatchalian, who assumed office on June 17, 2026.[a]

List of Senate presidents

All senators from 1941 onwards were elected at-large, with the whole Philippines as one constituency.

Every president of the Senate has been a member of a political party or faction; the number affiliated with each is:

  Liberal – 8;[b]   Nacionalista – 8;[c]   NPC – 4;   LDP – 3;   LAMP – 2;[d]   PDP–Laban – 2;   Nacionalista Colectivista – 1;[e]   Nacionalista Democratico – 1;[f]   PMP – 2;   Independent – 3.[g]
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Party/Coalition Legislature
Took office Left office
1 Manuel L. Quezon
Senator for the 5th District
(1878–1944)
[5][6]		 October 16,
1916		 November 15,
1935		 Nacionalista
(until 1922)		 4th Legislature
5th Legislature
Nacionalista Colectivista
(1922–1925)		 6th Legislature
Nacionalista Consolidado
(1925–1934)		 7th Legislature
8th Legislature
9th Legislature
Nacionalista Democratico
(from 1934)		 10th Legislature
Senate abolished
(November 15, 1935 – June 9, 1945)
2 Manuel Roxas
(1892–1948)
[7]		 June 9,
1945		 May 28,
1946		 Nacionalista
(until 1946)		 1st Commonwealth Congress
Liberal
(from 1946)
3
José Avelino
(1890–1986)
[8]		 May 28,
1946		 February 21,
1949		 Liberal 2nd Commonwealth Congress
1st Congress
4 Mariano Jesús Cuenco
(1888–1964)
[9]		 February 21,
1949		 December 30,
1951
2nd Congress
5 Quintín Paredes
(1884–1973)
[10]		 March 5,
1952		 April 17,
1952
6 Camilo Osías
(1889–1976)
[11]		 April 17,
1952		 April 30,
1952		 Nacionalista
7 Eulogio Rodriguez
(1883–1964)
[12]		 April 30,
1952		 April 17,
1953
8 Camilo Osías
(1889–1976)
[13]		 April 17,
1953		 April 30,
1953
9 Jose Zulueta
(1889–1972)
[12]		 April 30,
1953		 May 20,
1953		 Liberal
10 Eulogio Rodriguez
(1883–1964)
[14]		 May 20,
1953		 April 5,
1963		 Nacionalista
3rd Congress
4th Congress
5th Congress
11 Ferdinand Marcos
(1917–1989)
[15]		 April 5,
1963		 December 30,
1965		 Liberal
(until 1964)
Nacionalista
(from 1964)
12 Arturo Tolentino
(1910–2004)
[16]		 January 17,
1966		 January 26,
1967		 Nacionalista 6th Congress
13 Gil Puyat
(1907–1980)
[17]		 January 26,
1967		 January 17,
1973
7th Congress
Senate abolished[h]
(January 17, 1973 – February 2, 1987)
14 Jovito Salonga
(1920–2016)
[18]		 July 27,
1987		 January 18,
1992		 Liberal 8th Congress
15 Neptali Gonzales
(1923–2001)
[19]		 January 18,
1992		 January 18,
1993		 LDP
9th Congress
16 Edgardo Angara
(1934–2018)
[20]		 January 18,
1993		 August 28,
1995
10th Congress
17 Neptali Gonzales
(1923–2001)
[19]		 August 29,
1995		 October 10,
1996
18 Ernesto Maceda
(1935–2016)
[21]		 October 10,
1996		 January 26,
1998		 NPC
19 Neptali Gonzales
(1923–2001)
[19]		 January 26,
1998		 June 30,
1998		 LDP
20 Marcelo Fernan
(1927–1999)
[22]		 July 27,
1998		 June 28,
1999		 11th Congress
— Blas Ople
(1927–2003)
[23]		 June 28,
1999[i]		 July 26,
1999[i]		 LAMP
21 July 26,
1999		 April 13,
2000
22 Franklin Drilon
(born 1945)
[24]		 April 13,
2000		 November 13,
2000		 LAMP
(until 2000)
Independent
(from 2000)
23 Nene Pimentel
(1933–2019)
[25]		 November 13,
2000		 June 30,
2001		 PDP–Laban
24 Franklin Drilon
(born 1945)
[26]		 July 23,
2001		 July 24,
2006		 Independent
(until 2003)		 12th Congress
Liberal
(from 2003)
13th Congress
25
Manny Villar
(born 1949)
[27]		 July 24,
2006		 November 17,
2008		 Nacionalista
14th Congress
26
Juan Ponce Enrile
(1924–2025)
[28]		 November 17,
2008		 June 5,
2013		 PMP
15th Congress
— Jinggoy Estrada
(born 1963)
Acting
[29]		 June 5,
2013		 July 22,
2013
27 Franklin Drilon
(born 1945)
[30]		 July 22,
2013		 June 30,
2016		 Liberal 16th Congress
28 Koko Pimentel
(born 1964)
[31]		 July 25,
2016		 May 21,
2018		 PDP–Laban 17th Congress
29 Tito Sotto
(born 1948)
[32]		 May 21,
2018		 June 30,
2022		 NPC
18th Congress
30 Juan Miguel Zubiri
(born 1969)
[33]		 July 25,
2022		 May 20,
2024		 Independent 19th Congress
31 Francis Escudero
(born 1969)
[34]		 May 20,
2024		 September 8,
2025		 NPC
20th Congress
32 Tito Sotto
(born 1948)
[35]		 September 8,
2025		 May 11,
2026
33 Alan Peter Cayetano
(born 1970)
[36]
 May 11,
2026		 June 3,
2026		 Independent
— Sherwin Gatchalian[j]
(born 1974)
[37]		 June 3,
2026		 June 17,
2026		 NPC
34 June 17,
2026		 Incumbent

Senate presidents by time in office

Rank Name Time in office[k] TE Year(s) in which elected
1 Manuel L. Quezon 19 years, 30 days 7 1916; 1919; 1922; 1925; 1928; 1931; 1934
2 Eulogio Rodriguez 10 years, 307 days 6 1952; 1953; 1954; 1956; 1958; 1960
3 Franklin Drilon 8 years, 104 days 4 2000; 2001; 2004; 2013
4 Gil Puyat 5 years, 241 days 4 1967; 1968; 1970; 1972
5 Tito Sotto 4 years, 285 days 3 2018; 2019; 2025
6 Juan Ponce Enrile 4 years, 200 days 2 2008; 2010
7 Jovito Salonga 4 years, 175 days 1 1987
8 Mariano Jesús Cuenco 2 years, 312 days 2 1949; 1952
9
(tie)		 José Avelino 2 years, 269 days 2 1946; 1948
Ferdinand Marcos 2 years, 269 days 2 1963; 1964
11 Edgardo Angara 2 years, 222 days 2 1993; 1995
12 Neptali Gonzales 2 years, 197 days 4 1992 (2); 1995; 1998
13 Manny Villar 2 years, 116 days 2 2006; 2007
14
(tie)		 Koko Pimentel 1 year, 300 days 1 2016
Migz Zubiri 1 year, 300 days 1 2022
16 Francis Escudero 1 year, 111 days 2 2024; 2025
17 Ernesto Maceda 1 year, 108 days 1 1996
18 Arturo Tolentino 1 year, 9 days 1 1966
19 Manuel Roxas 353 days 1 1945
20 Blas Ople 352 days 1 1999
21 Marcelo Fernan 336 days 1 1998
22 Nene Pimentel 229 days 1 2000
23 Quintín Paredes 43 days 1 1952
24 Camilo Osías 26 days 2 1952; 1953
25 Alan Peter Cayetano 23 days 1 2026
26 Jose Zulueta 20 days 1 1953
27 Sherwin Gatchalian 20 days 1 2026

Timeline

Sherwin GatchalianAlan Peter CayetanoTito SottoFrancis EscuderoJuan Miguel ZubiriKoko PimentelFranklin DrilonJuan Ponce EnrileManny VillarNene PimentelBlas OpleMarcelo FernanNeptali GonzalesErnesto MacedaEdgardo AngaraJovito SalongaGil PuyatArturo TolentinoFerdinand MarcosEulogio RodriguezJose ZuluetaCamilo OsíasQuintín ParedesMariano Jesús CuencoJosé AvelinoManuel RoxasManuel L. Quezon

Notes

  1. ↑ Gatchalian served as acting Senate president from June 3 to June 17, 2026, in his capacity as Senate president pro tempore, after the office of the Senate president was declared vacant. He was formally elected Senate president on June 17, 2026.
  2. ↑ Includes the tenures of Manuel Roxas in 1946, Ferdinand Marcos from 1963 to 1964, and Franklin Drilon from 2003 to 2006 and 2013 to 2016.
  3. ↑ Includes the tenures of Manuel L. Quezon from 1916 to 1922 and 1925 to 1934, Manuel Roxas from 1945 to 1946 and Ferdinand Marcos from 1964 to 1965.
  4. ↑ Includes the tenure of Franklin Drilon from July to November 3, 2000.
  5. ↑ Includes the tenure of Manuel L. Quezon from 1922 to 1925.
  6. ↑ Includes the tenure of Manuel L. Quezon from 1934 to 1935.
  7. ↑ Includes the tenures of Franklin Drilon from November 3–13, 2000 and 2001 to 2003.
  8. ↑ The ratification of the 1973 Constitution abolished the Senate, and a unicameral legislature was established, later known as the Batasang Pambansa.
  9. 1 2 As acting Senate president.
  10. ↑ Sherwin Gatchalian served as acting president of the Senate until June 17, 2026.
  11. ↑ Cumulative tenure

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Senate Proper". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ Const. (1987), art. VII, § 8 (Phil.).
  3. ↑ Gavilan, Jodesz (May 20, 2024). "Things to know: Duties and responsibilities of the Senate president". Rappler. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  4. ↑ Rules of the Senate, Rule II, § 2
  5. ↑ "Biography of Senate President Quezon". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  6. ↑ Onorato, Michael P. (1966). "The Jones Act and the Establishment of a Filipino Government, 1916-1921". Philippine Studies. 14 (3): 448–459. ISSN 0031-7837. JSTOR 42720121.
  7. ↑ "Biography of Senate President Roxas". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  8. ↑ "History of the Senate - Congress of the Philippines (1946-1972)". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Senators Profile - Mariano J. Cuenco". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Miércoles, 5 de Marzo de 1952". Congressional Record. III (28). Senate of the Philippines: 392. March 5, 1952.
  11. ↑ "Jueves, 17 de Abril de 1952". Congressional Record. III (52). Senate of the Philippines: 801. March 5, 1952.
  12. 1 2 "List of Previous Senators – Second Congress". Senate of the Philippines.
  13. ↑ "Miércoles, 30 de Abril de 1952". Congressional Record. III (61). Senate of the Philippines: 963. March 5, 1952.
  14. ↑ "Miércoles, 20 de Mayo de 1953". Congressional Record. IV (78). Senate of the Philippines: 1173. May 20, 1953.
  15. ↑ "Ferdinand Marcos | Research Starters | EBSCO Research". EBSCO. 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Biography of Senate President Tolentino". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Biography of Senate President Puyat". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  18. ↑ Maragay, Feliciano V. (July 28, 1987). "Salonga spells out Senate vision". Manila Standard. pp. 1–2. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  19. 1 2 3 "Biography of Senate President Gonzales". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Senator Edgardo J. Angara". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Biography of Senate President Maceda". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Biography of Senate President Fernan". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Biography of Senate President Ople". Senate of the Philippines.
  24. ↑ Javellana, Juliet L. (April 13, 2000). "Drilon warns against anti-Erap plots". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 3. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  25. ↑ Danao, Efren (November 14, 2000). "Drilon ousted in Senate coup". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  26. ↑ Calica, Aurea (July 23, 2001). "Drilon is back at Senate helm". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Senator Manny Villar". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  28. ↑ Mendez, Christina (November 18, 2008). "Villar ousted; Enrile elected Senate president". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  29. ↑ Calonzo, Andreo (June 5, 2013). "Enrile announces irrevocable resignation as Senate president". GMA News Online. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  30. ↑ Macaraig, Ayee (July 22, 2013). "Drilon is Senate President again". Rappler. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  31. ↑ Ager, Maila (July 25, 2016). "Koko Pimentel takes Senate presidency by 20-3 vote". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  32. ↑ Elemia, Camille (May 21, 2018). "Tito Sotto elected as Senate president". Rappler. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  33. ↑ Luna, Franco (July 25, 2022). "Juan Miguel Zubiri is new Senate president". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  34. ↑ Ager, Maila (May 20, 2024). "Chiz Escudero is new Senate president; Miguel Zubiri out". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  35. ↑ Moaje, Marita (September 8, 2025). "Sotto back as Senate President, vows to fight corruption". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  36. ↑ Tamayo, Bernadette E. (May 11, 2026). "Sotto unseated as Senate president in coup". The Manila Times. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  37. ↑ Cruz, James Patrick (June 3, 2026). "Win Gatchalian is acting Senate president". Rappler. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
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