Senators continue to scramble for committee chairmanships

The scramble to control major standing committees in the Senate is continuously creating rifts among senators who want to be chairman of the same plum committees. A battle that is openly heating up is between Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Ralph Recto, who both wish to head the public services committee, which covers public services and utilities, communications, transportation, and legislative franchises. Revilla, who headed the committee in the 14th Congress, said he was insulted when Recto offered him to be a committee member for the 15th Congress. "Wag naman tayo mang-bully, parang ganun yung dating, sana hindi naman ganun (I hope there is no bullying, because that's how it felt like, I hope it's not like that)," he said. Revilla explained that the majority had earlier promised him the public services committee chairmanship. "It so happened na yung advocacy ko andun... yun yung hawak ko in the past (that that's where my advocacy lies, that's what I handled in the past)," he said. Recto, however, said that he didn't mean to insult Revilla. "Frankly I didn't even know he was chairman of that committee (but) there's nothing for me to apologize, that's not intended, that's for sure," he said. He likewise said that he has no plans of giving up a position that was already promised to him by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. "He (Revilla) could be vice chair... I'm sure we can work together," he said. More clashes? Aside from the public services committee, another plum committee up for grabs is the energy committee. According to Senator Franklin Drilon, the energy committee has already been assigned to Senator Teofisto Guingona III of the Liberal Party (LP). Senator Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), however, said she also wants to be its chairman, arguing that seniority must be taken into account in awarding committee chairmanships. Guingona, who is serving his first term as a senator, has refused to issue a comment regarding the matter. In yet another contest for control, Senator Edgardo Angara has also reportedly expressed interest in heading the finance committee — which Enrile has already promised to Drilon. In an attempt to settle the issues, the majority held a caucus late Wednesday. But Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said that they still haven't resolved the question of who will head the public services and energy committees. Despite this, Sotto said there were "(no) fireworks, (no) heated arguments," adding that the caucus was "very warm." He said that the chairmanship for the finance committee has been resolved. But he refused to reveal who the chairman will be, saying that only Enrile has the right to announce what the senators have agreed upon. The standing committees of the Senate operate as “little legislatures" which determine the fate of most bills or proposals. Committee members and staff are usually experts in the subjects under their jurisdiction. They discuss and revise the bills during committee hearings. Malacanang intervention? Meanwhile, LP chairman Drilon refused to confirm whether President Benigno Aquino III, who was LP standard-bearer in the May elections, personally asked Enrile to give his party-mates in the chamber the major standing committees. Among these are the finance committee, energy committee, public services committee, ways and means committee (to be headed by Senator Ralph Recto), and agriculture committee (to be headed by Senator Francis Pangilinan). Drilon said it is but "natural" that the President would want his party-mates to handle committees "critical" to his platform of government. "Let's give the President a chance," he said. He also expressed assurances that Enrile will assign the committee chairmanships based on the competence of the senators. But Pangilinan noted that the LP's support to Enrile was "critical" for him to secure the necessary votes to bag the Senate presidency, which should make it understandable that LP was awarded important committees. For his part, Recto said that the Aquino administration had specifically asked him to take the ways and means committee, to help them reduce deficit, create jobs, and enhance social services. "I know the President's agenda, I have an idea and that's why we push for certain committees," he said. Other assigned chairmanships Enrile for his part said that he has given the committee on constitutional amendments to Senator Joker Arroyo, and the health and women committees to Senator Pia Cayetano, while he himself will probably handle the ethics committee. He had also announced earlier that Senator Sergio "Serge" Osmena III will handle the committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies, while Angara will get the education, arts and culture and science and technology committees. Sotto said that he will handle Senator Panfilo Lacson's accounts committee until the senator decides to show himself. Lacson is currently in hiding after a court ordered his arrest in February this year over his suspected involvement in the celebrated Dacer-Corbito double murder case. Sotto also said that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who remains in detention after the court refused his recent bid to attend Senate sessions, will retain his hold on the civil service and government reorganization committee. Vote on the floor as last resort Enrile himself said that his fellow senators and the public should give him more credit for his decision-making. "I've been in the government for quite a long time. I know the needs of any administration. If (the Aquino) administration will bog down, it is not he who will suffer but the nation and the people," he said. For his part, Arroyo said it should not be necessary for a senator to be given a committee so that he would be able to perform his duties. "In the last Congress, I also did not have a committee," he said. Sotto said the Senate will probably settle the issue on committee chairmanships on Monday. If they still fail to reach a consensus, he said they will vote on the floor. Meanwhile, the Senate likewise has no decision yet on the composition of the Commission on Appointments (CA).—JV, GMANews.TV