By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
After last week’s leadership change, the Senate continues to find its footing with the appointment of a new Secretary and chairpersons for several permanent committees.
This took place before the chamber convened as an impeachment court and welcomed the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday.
The senators elected Jose Luis Montales as the new Senate secretary, with the Taguig City administrator taking the reins from Mark Llandro Mendoza to become the impeachment clerk of court, as well as the 24th Senate secretary.
A lawyer and a seasoned public servant, Montales previously served as secretary general of the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2020. He also served as the DFA Undersecretary for civilian security and consular concerns from 2017 to 2018.
Meanwhile, the chamber also named new chairpersons who will take the helm of several permanent committees as part of the Senate’s priorities to organize ahead of performing other Constitutional duties.
Acting Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva announced the following committee assignments:
- Senator Pia Cayetano (Energy; Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking; and Ways and Means)
- Senator Jinggoy Estrada (Games and Amusements; and National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation)
- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go (Sports; and Health and Demography)
- Senator Rodante Marcoleta (Public Services)
- Senator Robin Padilla (Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs; and Public Information and Mass Media)
- Senator Joel Villanueva (Higher, Technical and Vocational Education)
- Senator Loren Legarda (Basic Education; and Culture and the Arts)
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