Secretary of the Senate of the Philippines

Secretary of the Senate of the Philippines
since July 25, 2022
Senate of the Philippines
StyleThe Honorable
SeatGSIS Building, Financial Center, Jose W. Diokno Boulevard, Pasay
AppointerElected by the Senate
FormationOctober 16, 1916
First holderFelipe Buencamino Jr.
DeputyDeputy Secretaries of the Senate of the Philippines
Salary₱3,341,000 per year (2023)[1]
Website[2]

The secretary of the Senate of the Philippines is an officer of the Senate of the Philippines. The secretary is an elected official among the staff of the Senate, responsible for helping the Senate president provide efficient legislative and administrative support to the offices of the senators, managing the affairs of the Senate Secretariat, inclusive of all the offices, service units, officers, and employees, acting as its central clearinghouse, and developing strategic plans and policies for the enhancement of the Senate's professionalism.

The first secretary was Felipe Buencamino Jr., serving in the upper chamber of the fourth and fifth Philippine Legislature from the Senate's establishment in 1916 until 1917.

The current secretary (for the 19th Congress of the Philippines) is Renato Bantug Jr.

Powers and duties

According to Rule V, Section 7 of the Rules of the Senate, the duties and powers of the Secretary are:

  • For the inaugural session of the Congress, to prepare the Order of Business of the Senate which shall include:
    • A Resolution informing the President of the Philippines that the Senate has been organized and has elected its President, President Pro Tempore, Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms;
    • A Resolution informing the House of Representatives that the Senate has been organized and has elected its President, President Pro Tempore, Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms;
    • A Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives providing for a joint session to hear the State of the Nation Address of the President of the Philippines;
    • A Concurrent Resolution authorizing the appointment of a joint committee of both Houses to inform the President of the Philippines that Congress, in joint session, is ready to receive his State of the Nation Address;
  • To attend the sessions of the Senate;
  • To open, whenever there is neither a President nor a President Pro Tempore, the first session in which the Senators elected in the immediately preceding regular elections shall participate, and to announce that the business in order is the designation of the temporary President;
  • To keep a Record and Journal of the proceedings of the Senate, and to certify them himself;
  • To prepare and distribute the calendars of the Senate;
  • To publish and distribute the Journal and Record of the Senate;
  • To serve as custodian of all the records of the Senate;
  • To certify all measures, orders and resolutions approved by the Senate and to stamp them with its official seal which shall also be under his custody;
  • To appoint, whenever expressly authorized by the Senate, the necessary subordinate personnel thereof;
  • To be responsible for the strict compliance by the Senate personnel with their duties, upon whom he may impose, for just cause, corrective or disciplinary measures including a recommendation to the President for their dismissal;
  • To administer oath as a Notary ex officio of the Senate; and
  • To perform other duties inherent in his office although not specified in these Rules.

The Secretary also serves as the official clerk of the impeachment court when the Senate convenes as such.

Secretaries of the Senate

The following persons served as Secretary of the Senate:

Senate of the Philippine Islands
(1916–1935)
No. Portrait Name Term start Term end Legislature Refs.
1 Felipe Buencamino Jr. October 16, 1916 1917 4th Legislature
2 Fernando María Guerrero 1917 1922 [1]
5th Legislature
3 Faustino Aguilar 1922 1931 6th Legislature
7th Legislature
8th Legislature
4 Fermin S. Torralba 1931 November 15, 1935 9th Legislature
10th Legislature
Senate abolished (1935–1941)
Senate of the Commonwealth of the Philippines
(1941–1946)
No. Portrait Name Term start Term end Legislature Refs.
5 Felix L. Lazo June 9, 1945 May 25, 1946 1st Commonwealth Congress [1]
Senate of the Republic of the Philippines
(since 1946)
No. Portrait Name Term start Term end Legislature Refs.
6 Antonio Zacarias May 25, 1946 1949 1st Congress [1]
7 Toribio P. Perez 1949 1954 2nd Congress [1]
8 Sofronio C. Quimson 1954 1958 3rd Congress [1]
9 Fidel M. Henares 1958 1960 4th Congress [1]
10 Regino S. Eustaquio 1960 1966 [1][2]
5th Congress
6th Congress
11 Eliseo M. Tenza 1966 1972 [1]
7th Congress
Senate abolished (1973–1986)
12 Eriberto M. Bernal July 27, 1987 1988 8th Congress [1][3]
13 Edwin P. Acoba 1988 1991 [1][4]
14 Anacleto D. Badoy 1991 1992
– Lorenzo E. Leynes Jr.
Acting 		1991 1992 [1][5]
(14) Anacleto D. Badoy 1992 1993 [1][6]
9th Congress
15 Edgardo E. Tumangan 1993 1995 [1][7][8]
10th Congress
16 Hezel P. Gacutan 1995 1996 [1]
17 Lorenzo E. Leynes Jr. 1996 1998 [1][9]
(16) Hezel P. Gacutan 1998 April 2000 [1]
11th Congress
18 Oscar G. Yabes April 2000 November 2000 [1]
19 Lutgardo B. Barbo November 2000 July 23, 2001 [1][10]
(18) Oscar G. Yabes July 23, 2001 July 24, 2007 12th Congress [1]
13th Congress
20 Emma L. Reyes July 24, 2007 July 22, 2013 14th Congress [1][11]
15th Congress
(18) Oscar G. Yabes July 22, 2013 July 25, 2016 16th Congress [1][12]
(19) Lutgardo B. Barbo July 25, 2016 May 29, 2018 17th Congress [1]
21 Myra Marie D. Villarica May 29, 2018 July 25, 2022
18th Congress [1][13]
22 Renato Bantug Jr. July 25, 2022 present 19th Congress [1][14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "List of Previous Senators - Senate of the Philippines". web.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  2. ^ "Senate Resolution No. 040, s. 1960 | Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau". ldr.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  3. ^ "Senate Resolution No. 034, s. 1988 | Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau". ldr.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  4. ^ "Senate Resolution No. 035, s. 1988 | Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau". ldr.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  5. ^ "Senate Resolution No. 145, s. 1991 | Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau". issuances-library.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  6. ^ "Senate Resolution No. 148, s. 1992 | Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau". issuances-library.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  7. ^ "Senate Resolution No. 021, s. 1993 | Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau". ldr.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  8. ^ "Senate Resolution No. 9, s. 1995, 10th Congress of the Republic | Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau". ldr.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  9. ^ "Senate Resolution No. 124 | Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau". issuances-library.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  10. ^ "From Senate secretary, Lutgardo Barbo now wants to be senator". RAPPLER. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  11. ^ "Photo Release - New Senate Secretary". web.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  12. ^ "Oscar Yabes is Senate Secretary". web.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  13. ^ "Sotto swears in new Senate Secretary". web.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  14. ^ "Senate Secretary par excellence". web.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
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