Filane Mikee Cervantes/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Tuesday the chamber will conduct an election for the committee chairmanships during the opening of the 18th Congress on July 22.
“Lahat bobotohan pagdating ng (All will be voted upon on) July 22, when we convene for the 18th Congress, aside from the resolutions that we will be passing. Most probably we will elect or re-elect the officers, that is the SOP,” Sotto told reporters in an ambush interview.
Some incoming senators have already expressed their interest to take over the helm of certain committees in the Senate.
Sotto noted that senator-elect Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is interested to lead the Senate public order committee, which is currently headed by Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Lacson said he has offered to relinquish the chairmanship of the committee to dela Rosa.
“Knowing him (dela Rosa), I am confident that he will learn the ropes of lawmaking easily, not to mention that I want him to immediately feel and experience how to balance the plight of those at the receiving end of the abuses and overzealousness of some police officers in the conduct of their operations with the side of law enforcement itself,” he said in a text message.
Both Lacson and dela Rosa headed the Philippine National Police.
Sotto said senator-elect Christopher “Bong” Go has also expressed interest to head the Senate health committee, which is headed by Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito.
Ejercito is currently ranked 13th in the senatorial race based on the partial and official count of the Commission on Elections.
“Pinag-uusapan pa (Talks are underway). Bong Go has expressed his wish already to… mas madali ng kaunti yun kasi bakante talaga kung hindi mapo-proclaim si Senator JV (It would be easier if it will be vacant, in case Senator JV will not be proclaimed),” Sotto said.
