By Brian Campued
“The Senate knows how to organize itself; the Senate also knows how to do the work.”
With the Upper Chamber of 20th Congress undergoing a reshuffle under the leadership of Senate President Tito Sotto, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stressed that the administration’s legislative agenda will remain in place and on track.
During the Kapihan with the Media in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, Marcos said that the change in leadership in the Senate is an “internal matter” and that it is unlikely to derail their legislative priorities.
“That remains to be seen. But I do not actually see any problem in terms of the legislative agenda that the Executive and the Legislature have agreed to undertake for the next Congress,” he told reporters.
“And if Senator Sotto is now the SP again, then I do not see that it will change very much from what our agenda has – that we had agreed upon when Senator Chiz (Escudero) was SP,” he added.
As the Senate continues its hearings on questionable flood control projects as well as the 2026 National Expenditure Program, President Marcos said that he will not press the senators to expedite its own investigations as the Executive and the Legislature remain “co-equal and independent of each other.”
“Well, I think it’s very clear to everyone that this is important to me, to the administration, that we conduct these investigations properly and thoroughly. And I think everyone is in agreement that this is something that we have to do,” the Chief Executive said.
“So, let’s just put it that way. And I think that there is no need for pressure coming from the President because the situation as it stands now there is immense pressure from the public, which is much, much, much more important than anything that the President can do,” he added.
The Senate then named Sen. Ping Lacson as new Senate President Pro Tempore and Zubiri as the Majority Leader, replacing Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, respectively, who are now part of the minority bloc.
New officers, committee chairpersonships announced
On Tuesday, Senators Risa Hontiveros and JV Ejercito were appointed as Deputy Majority Leaders, while Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was named Minority Leader.
Villanueva and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, meanwhile, were designated as Deputy Minority Leaders.
The 15-member majority bloc now consists of:
- Sotto
- Lacson
- Zubiri
- Hontiveros
- Ejercito
- Sen. Loren Legarda
- Sen. Bam Aquino
- Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
- Sen. Pia Cayetano
- Sen. Camille Villar
- Sen. Mark Villar
- Sen. Erwin Tulfo
- Sen. Raffy Tulfo
- Sen. Lito Lapid
- Sen. Win Gatchalian
On the other hand, the new minority bloc now includes:
- A. Cayetano
- Marcoleta
- Villanueva
- Escudero
- Estrada
- Sen. Imee Marcos
- Sen. Bato Dela Rosa
- Sen. Bong Go
- Sen. Robin Padilla
The first batch of new committee chairpersons were also announced:
- Accountability of Public Officers and Investigation (Blue Ribbon) – Lacson, replacing Marcoleta
- Labor, Employment, and Human Resources – R. Tulfo, replacing Marcos
- Accounts – Legarda, replacing A. Cayetano
- Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education – Legarda, replacing A. Cayetano
- National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation – Legarda, replacing Ejercito
- Public Order and Dangerous Drugs – Ejercito, replacing Dela Rosa
- Health and Demography – Hontiveros, replacing Go
- Justice and Human Rights – Pangilinan, replacing A. Cayetano
- Chamber’s representative to the Judicial and Bar Council – Pangilinan
- Economic Affairs – C. Villar, replacing Zubiri
- Cooperatives – Lapid, replacing Marcos
New members of the bicameral Commission on Appointments:
- Lacson
- Hontiveros
- Ejercito
- Villanueva
- Marcoleta
- Legarda
- R. Tulfo
- M. Villar
- Lapid
- Go
- Marcos
- Estrada
The above list will be updated for any new developments.
(with report from Daniel Manalastas / PTV News)
-jpv
