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 Philippine Legislature from the Senate's establishment in 1916 until 1917.
The current secretary of the Senate is Renato Bantug Jr., serving since June 3, 2026.
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:
Portrait Name Term start Term end Legislature Felipe Buencamino Jr.October 16, 191619174th Legislature Fernando María Guerrero 191719225th Legislature Faustino Aguilar 1922 1931 6th Legislature 7th Legislature 8th Legislature Fermín Torralba 1931 November 15, 1935 9th Legislature 10th Legislature colspan="6" Felix Lazo June 9, 1945 1946 1stCommonwealthCongress Antonio Zacarias 1946 1949 2ndCommonwealthCongress1st Congress Toribio Perez 1949 1954 2nd Congress Sofronio Quimson 1954 1958 3rd Congress Fidel Henares 1958 1960 4th Congress Regino Eustaquio 1960 1966 5th Congress 6th Congress Eliseo Tenza 1966 January 17, 1973 7th Congress colspan="6" Eriberto Bernal July 27, 1987 1988 8th Congress Edwin Acoba 1988 1991 Anacleto Badoy 1991 1992 Lorenzo Leynes Jr. 1991 1992 Anacleto Badoy 1992 1993 9th Congress Edgardo Tumangan 1993 1995 10th Congress Hezel Gacutan 1995 1996 Lorenzo Leynes Jr. 1996 1998 Hezel Gacutan 1998 April 2000 11th Congress Oscar Yabes April 2000 November 2000 Lutgardo Barbo November 2000 July 23, 2001 Oscar Yabes July 23, 2001 July 24, 2007 12th Congress13th Congress Emma Lirio-Reyes July 24, 2007 July 22, 2013 14th Congress 15th Congress Oscar Yabes July 22, 2013 July 25, 2016 16th Congress Lutgardo Barbo July 25, 2016 May 29, 2018 17th Congress Myra Marie Villarica May 29, 2018 July 25, 2022 18th Congress Renato Bantug Jr. July 25, 2022 February 2, 2026 19th Congress 20th Congress Mark Llandro Mendoza February 2, 2026 May 18, 2026 Jose Luis Montales May 18, 2026 June 3, 2026 Renato Bantug Jr. June 3, 2026 Incumbent
References
See also Secretary General of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
External links Secretary of the Senate, officers of the Philippine Senate