The President of the Senate of the Philippines, or more popularly known as the Senate President, is the presiding officer and the highest ranking-official of the Senate of the Philippines

Senate of the Philippines

The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...

. He/she is elected by the entire body to be their leader. The current Senate President is Juan Ponce Enrile

Juan Ponce Enrile

Juan Ponce Enrile is a Filipino politician. As a protege of President Ferdinand Marcos, he served as Justice Secretary and then Defense Secretary under the Marcos regime. He later became one of the leaders of the 1986 People Power Movement that drove Marcos from power...

.

The Senate President is second in line in succession for the presidency, behind the Vice President and in front of the Speaker of the House of Representatives

Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives

The Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines is the presiding officer of the lower house of Congress, the House of Representatives....

.

Manner of election

The Senate President is elected by the majority of the members of the Senate; since there are 24 senators, thirteen votes are needed to win the senate presidency, including any vacant seats or senators not attending the session. Although Senate presidents are elected at the start of each Congress, there had been numerous instances of Senate coups in which a sitting president is unseated in the middle of session.

Unlike most Senate presidents that are the symbolic presiding officer of the upper house, the Senate President of the Philippines wields considerate power by influencing the legislative agenda and has the ability to vote not just in order to break ties.

Powers

According to the Rules of the Senate, the Senate President has the power to:

(a) To preside over the sessions of the Senate on the days and at the hours designated by it; to call the Senate to order and, if there is a quorum, to order the reading of the Journal of the preceding session and, after the Senate shall have acted upon it, to dispose of the matters appearing in the Order of Business in accordance with the Rules;

(b) To decide all points of order;

(c) To sign all measures, memorials, joint and concurrent resolutions; issue warrants, orders of arrest, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum;

(d) To see to it that all resolutions of the Senate are complied with;

(e) To have general control over the session hall, the antechambers, corridors and offices of the Senate;

(f) To maintain order in the session hall, the antechambers, corridors and in the offices of the Senate, and whenever there is disorder, to take appropriate measures to quell it;

(g) To designate an Acting Sergeant-at-Arms, if the Sergeant-at-Arms resigns, is replaced or becomes incapacitated;

(h) To appoint the subordinate personnel of the Senate in conformity with the provisions of the General Appropriations Act;

(i) To dismiss any employee for cause, which dismissal in the case of permanent and classified employees shall be in conformity with the Civil Service Law; and

(j) To diminish or increase the number of authorized personnel by consolidating or separating positions or items whenever the General Appropriations Act so authorizes and the total amount of salaries or allocations does not exceed the amount earmarked therein.

The Senate President is also the ex officio chairman of the Commission on Appointments. And if other impeachable officers other than the President such as the Ombudsman is on an impeachment trial, the Senate President is the presiding officer.

List of Senate Presidents

The Senate was created on 1916 with the abolition of the Philippine Commission

Philippine Commission

The Philippine Commission was a body appointed by the President of the United States to exercise legislative and limited executive powers in the Philippines. It was first appointed by President William McKinley in 1901. Beginning in 1907, it acted as the upper house of a bicameral Philippine...

 as the upper house with the Philippine Assembly

Philippine Assembly

The Philippine Assembly was the lower house of the legislative body of the Philippines during the early part of American colonial period. It was created by the Philippine Organic Act, passed in 1902, which also established the Philippine Commission as the upper house of the Philippine Legislature,...

 as the lower house. The Senate and the House of Representatives comprised the Philippine Legislature

Philippine Legislature

The Philippine Legislature was the legislative body of the Philippines during the earlier part U.S. colonial administration. It was a bicameral legislature, with the Philippine Commission, headed by the U.S. Governor General serving as the upper house, and the Philippine Assembly serving as the...

 (PL). Representation was by senatorial district; Manuel L. Quezon

Manuel L. Quezon

Manuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...

 was elected Senator from the now-defunct 5th Legislative District.

All Senators from 1941 onwards were elected at-large

At-Large

At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...

, with the whole Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

 as one constituency.

#	Senate President		Party	Legislature	Start of service	End of service	Era
1		Manuel L. Quezon Manuel L. Quezon Manuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...	NP Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...	4th PL 4th Philippine Legislature The Fourth Philippine Legislature was the meeting of the legislature of the Philippine Islands under the sovereign control of the United States from October 16, 1916 to March 8, 1919.-Sessions:...	1916	1919	Jones Law
				5th PL 5th Philippine Legislature The Fifth Philippine Legislature was the meeting of the legislature of the Philippines under the sovereign control of the United States from 1919 to 1922.-Philippine Senate:-House of Representatives:-See also:*Congress of the Philippines...	1919	1922
				6th PL 6th Philippine Legislature The Sixth Philippine Legislature was the meeting of the legislature of the Philippines under the sovereign control of the United States from 1922 to 1925.-Philippine Senate:-House of Representatives:-See also:*Congress of the Philippines...	1922	1925
				7th PL 7th Philippine Legislature The Seventh Philippine Legislature was the meeting of the legislature of the Philippines under the sovereign control of the United States from 1925 to 1928.-See also:*Congress of the Philippines*Senate of the Philippines...	1925	1928
				8th PL 8th Philippine Legislature The Eighth Philippine Legislature was the meeting of the legislature of the Philippine Islands under the sovereign control of the United States from 1928 to 1931.-See also:*Congress of the Philippines*Senate of the Philippines...	1928	1931
				9th PL 9th Philippine Legislature The Ninth Philippine Legislature was the meeting of the legislature of the Philippines under the sovereign control of the United States from 1931 to 1934.-See also:*Congress of the Philippines*Senate of the Philippines...	1931	1934
				10th PL 10th Philippine Legislature The Tenth Philippine Legislature was the meeting of the legislature of the Philippines under the sovereign control of the United States from 1934 to 1935.-See also:*Congress of the Philippines*Senate of the Philippines...	1934	1935
The Senate and the House of Representatives were merged into the unicameral National Assembly National Assembly of the Philippines The National Assembly of the Philippines refers to the legislature of the Philippine Commonwealth from 1935 to 1941, and the Second Philippine Republic. The National Assembly of the Commonwealth of the Philippines was created under the 1935 Constitution, which served as the Philippines' fundamental...  in 1935 at the onset of the Commonwealth period. It was replaced by the bicameral Commonwealth Congress (CC) with the amendment of the 1935 Constitution in 1940, with the first election for a senate elected at large held in November, 1941. However, the outbreak of World War II in the Philippines meant that the Commonwealth Congress did not convene until 1945. For leaders of the National Assembly, see Speakers of the National Assembly.							Commonwealth Commonwealth of the Philippines The Commonwealth of the Philippines was a designation of the Philippines from 1935 to 1946 when the country was a commonwealth of the United States. The Commonwealth was created by the Tydings-McDuffie Act, which was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1934. When Manuel L...
2		Manuel Roxas Manuel Roxas Manuel Acuña Roxas was the first president of the independent Third Republic of the Philippines and fifth president overall. He served as president from the granting of independence in 1946 until his abrupt death in 1948...	NP-Liberal Wing Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...	1st CC	July 9, 1945	May 25, 1946
3		Jose Avelino José Avelino José Dira Avelino . The first President of the Senate of the First Republic of the Philippines under the presidency of Manuel Roxas. He was President Pro-tempore to President Manuel Quezon prior to the establishment of the Commonwealth.Avelino was born in a town called Calbayog in Samar to...	LP Liberal Party (Philippines) The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...	2nd CC 1st Congress of the Philippines The First Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from May 25, 1946 until December 13, 1949. The body was originally convened as the Second Congress of the Commonwealth of the...	May 25, 1946	July 4, 1946
				1st 1st Congress of the Philippines The First Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from May 25, 1946 until December 13, 1949. The body was originally convened as the Second Congress of the Commonwealth of the...	July 5, 1946	February 21, 1949	Third Republic History of the Philippines (1946-1965) This article covers the history of the Philippines from the recognition of independence in 1946 to the end of the presidency of Diosdado Macapagal, which covered much of the Third Republic of the Philippines which ended in 1972....
4		Mariano Jesús Cuenco Mariano Jesús Cuenco Mariano Jesús Diosomito Cuenco was a Filipino Cebuano politician and writer.-Early life:He was born in Carmen, Cebu on January 16, 1888, to Mariano Albao Cuenco and Remedios López Diosomito. He studied at the Colegio de San Carlos of Cebu, where he graduated in 1904 with a degree in Bachelor of...			February 21, 1949	December 30, 1949
			LP Liberal Party (Philippines) The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...	2nd	December 30, 1949	December 30, 1951
5		Quintin Paredes Quintín Paredes Quintín B. Paredes was a Filipino lawyer, politician, and statesman.He was born in Bangued, Abra, Philippines in 1884 to Juan Felix Paredes and Regine Babila.-Education and early career:...			March 5, 1952	April 17, 1952
6		Camilo Osías Camilo Osías Camilo Osías was a Filipino politician, twice for a short time President of the Senate of the Philippines....	NP Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...		April 17, 1952	April 30, 1952
7		Eulogio Rodriguez Eulogio Rodriguez Eulogio "Amang" Adona Rodríguez, Sr. was a Filipino politician, the longest serving Senate President after Manuel L...			April 30, 1952	April 17, 1953
8		Camilo Osias Camilo Osías Camilo Osías was a Filipino politician, twice for a short time President of the Senate of the Philippines....  (2nd time)	LP Liberal Party (Philippines) The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...		April 17, 1953	April 30, 1953
9		Jose Zulueta Jose Zulueta Jose Zulueta was a Philippine senator who was elected as Senate President. He is also a renowned scholar, bibliographer, lawyer, librarian, and journalist who documented the military activities during the Philippine revolution.- Early life :...			April 30, 1953	November 30, 1953
10		Eulogio Rodriguez Eulogio Rodriguez Eulogio "Amang" Adona Rodríguez, Sr. was a Filipino politician, the longest serving Senate President after Manuel L...  (2nd time)	NP Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...		November 30, 1953	December 30, 1953
				3rd	January 25, 1954	December 30, 1957
				4th	January 27, 1958	December 30, 1961
				5th 5th Congress of the Philippines The Fifth Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from January 22, 1962 until December 17, 1965.-Sessions:*First Regular Session: January 22 – May 17, 1962*Second Regular...	January 22, 1957	April 5, 1963
11		Ferdinand E. Marcos Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...	LP Liberal Party (Philippines) The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...		April 5, 1963	April 1964
			NP Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...		April 1964	December 30, 1965
12		Arturo M. Tolentino Arturo Tolentino Arturo Modesto Tolentino was a prominent political figure in the Philippines who briefly held the position of vice president in 1986. He is more well known as the father of the Philippine “archipelagic doctrine” and expert on the Law of the Sea.-Early career:Arturo M. Tolentino was born in Manila...	NP Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...	6th 6th Congress of the Philippines The Sixth Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from January 17, 1966 until June 17, 1969.-Sessions:**First Special Session: January 17 – January 22, 1966*First Regular...	January 17, 1966	January 26, 1967
13		Gil Puyat Gil Puyat Gil J. Puyat was a Filipino businessman and politician who served as a Senator of the Philippines from 1951, and as Senate President from 1967 to 1972.-Education:...			January 26, 1967	December 30, 1969
				7th 7th Congress of the Philippines The Seventh Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from January 26, 1970 until it was effectively dissolved with the declaration of martial law on September 23, 1972 by...	January 26, 1970	September 23, 1972
The legislative functions of Congress were absorbed by the President President of the Philippines The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...  from 1972 to 1978 when the unicameral Batasang Pambansa Batasang Pambansa The Batasang Pambansa , also known by its nickname, the Batasan, was the former parliament of the Philippines, established as an interim assembly in 1978 and finally as an official body in 1984. Under the 1973 constitution, it replaced the former Congress established under the 1935 Commonwealth...  was formed during the Fourth Republic. For leaders of the Batasang Pambansa, see Speakers of the Batasang Pambansa. After the 1986 EDSA Revolution 1986 EDSA Revolution The People Power Revolution was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines that occurred in 1983-86. The methods used amounted to a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud... , the president held legislative powers until a restored bicameral Congress can be elected into office.							Fourth Republic History of the Philippines (1965-1986) This article covers the history of the Philippines during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos. The Marcos era includes the final years of the Third Republic and the entirety of the Fourth Republic .-Marcos Administration :...
14		Jovito Salonga Jovito Salonga Jovito "Jovy" Reyes Salonga is a Filipino nationalist politician and lawyer, as well as a leading opposition leader during the Marcos regime from 1972, when Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, until 1986, when Marcos was deposed as a result of a bloodless revolution...	LP Liberal Party (Philippines) The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...	8th 8th Congress of the Philippines The Eighth Congress of the Philippines is the meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives after the ratification of the Constitution of the Philippines in 1987.-Sessions:**First Special Session: July 14...	July 27, 1987	January 1, 1992	Fifth Republic History of the Philippines (1986-present) This article covers the history of the Philippines following the 1986 People Power Revolution.-Corazon Aquino administration :With the People Power Revolution, Corazon Aquino's assumption into power marked the restoration of democracy in the country...
15		Neptali Gonzales Neptali Gonzales Neptali A. Gonzales, Sr. was the President of the Philippine Senate from 1992 to 1993, 1995 to 1996, and 1998.-Early Life and Career:...	LDP Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino The Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino is a political party in the Philippines founded in 1988.There are no results available of the last elections for the House of Representatives, but according to the website of the House, the party holds 7 out of 235 seats . The party is divided into two factions...		January 1, 1992	June 30, 1992
				9th 9th Congress of the Philippines The Ninth Congress of the Philippines is the current meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives.-Sessions:...	July 27, 1992	January 18, 1993
16		Edgardo Angara Edgardo Angara Edgardo Javier Angara is a Filipino politician who served as President of the Senate of the Philippines from 1993-1995. He is currently serving his fourth term in the Senate which ends in 2013.-Early life and career:...			January 18, 1993	June 30, 1995
				10th 10th Congress of the Philippines The Tenth Congress of the Philippines is the current meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives.-Sessions:...	July 24, 1995	August 28, 1995
17		Neptali Gonzales Neptali Gonzales Neptali A. Gonzales, Sr. was the President of the Philippine Senate from 1992 to 1993, 1995 to 1996, and 1998.-Early Life and Career:...  (2nd time)			August 29, 1995	October 10, 1996
18		Ernesto Maceda	NPC Nationalist People's Coalition The Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC is a political party in the Philippines.-History:The Party was founded in 1991 after some members of the Nacionalista Party led by then Rizal Governor Isidro Rodriguez bolted from the Nacionalista Party after some disagreements with Nacionalista party...		October 10, 1996	January 26, 1998
19		Neptali Gonzales Neptali Gonzales Neptali A. Gonzales, Sr. was the President of the Philippine Senate from 1992 to 1993, 1995 to 1996, and 1998.-Early Life and Career:...  (3rd time)	LDP Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino The Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino is a political party in the Philippines founded in 1988.There are no results available of the last elections for the House of Representatives, but according to the website of the House, the party holds 7 out of 235 seats . The party is divided into two factions...		January 26, 1998	June 30, 1998
20		Marcelo Fernan Marcelo Fernan Marcelo "Celing" Briones Fernán was a Filipino lawyer and political figure. He is the only Filipino to have served as both Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and as Senate president...		11th 11th Congress of the Philippines The Eleventh Congress of the Philippines is the meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...	July 27, 1998	June 28, 1999
21		Blas Ople Blas Ople Blas Fajardo Ople was a Filipino journalist and politician who held several high-ranking positions in the executive and legislative branches of the Philippine government, including as Senate President from 1999 to 2000, and as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 2002 until his death...	LAMMP Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino was the umbrella political coalition party of the opposition during the 1998 Philippine Presidential Elections that led to the presidency of then Vice President Joseph Estrada...		June 29, 1999	July 12, 2000
22		Franklin Drilon Franklin Drilon Franklin Magtunao Drilon is a Filipino politician who served as President of the Senate of the Philippines in 2000 and from 2001 to 2006. Drilon currently serves his third term in the Senate...			July 12, 2000	November 13, 2000
23		Aquilino Pimentel	PDP-LABAN		November 13, 2000	June 30, 2001
24		Franklin Drilon Franklin Drilon Franklin Magtunao Drilon is a Filipino politician who served as President of the Senate of the Philippines in 2000 and from 2001 to 2006. Drilon currently serves his third term in the Senate...  (2nd time)	Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...	12th 12th Congress of the Philippines The Twelfth Congress of the Philippines was the national Lower House of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Senate of the Philippines and House of Representatives of the Philippines...	July 23, 2001	November 24, 2003
			LP Liberal Party (Philippines) The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...		November 24, 2003	June 30, 2004
				13th 13th Congress of the Philippines The Thirteenth Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...	July 24, 2004	July 24, 2006
25		Manny Villar Manny Villar Manuel "Manny" Bamba Villar, Jr. is a Filipino businessman and politician. He is currently a Philippine Senator, president of the Nacionalista Party...	NP Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...		July 24, 2006	June 30, 2007
				14th 14th Congress of the Philippines The Fourteenth Congress of the Philippines was the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...	July 23, 2007	November 17, 2008
26		Juan Ponce Enrile Juan Ponce Enrile Juan Ponce Enrile is a Filipino politician. As a protege of President Ferdinand Marcos, he served as Justice Secretary and then Defense Secretary under the Marcos regime. He later became one of the leaders of the 1986 People Power Movement that drove Marcos from power...	PMP Partido ng Masang Pilipino The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino , formerly Partido ng Masang Pilipino is a populist political party in the Philippines. It is the political party of former Philippine President Joseph Estrada...		November 17, 2008	June 30, 2010
				15th 15th Congress of the Philippines The Fifteenth Congress of the Philippines is the current meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives...	July 26, 2010	Incumbent

Living former Senate Presidents

Currently there are six living former Senate Presidents:

Sources

• List of Senators of the Philippines
• Roll of Senate Presidents