Hontiveros: Reshuffle makes Senate stronger, more independent

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday said the Senate is now stronger and more independent now that she and three Liberal Party (LP) senators have joined the minority bloc.

“[I]tong pagsapi sa bagong minorya ay on the principle na kailangan ilaban pa rin na gawin muling malakas at independiyente ang Senado, lalo na nga na malakas at overreaching ang executive,” Hontiveros said in an Unang Balita interview on Tuesday.

Senators allied with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday moved to kick out LP members from their positions and committee chairmanships.

Hontiveros, as the committee on health chair, was replaced by Senator JV Ejercito, while committee on agriculture chair Senator Francis Pangilinan was replaced by Senator Cynthia Villar, and committee on education chair Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV was replaced by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

LP leader Senator Franklin Drilon was replaced by Senator Ralph Recto as Senate President Pro Tempore

“Nung nabalitaan namin na malamang magkakaroon ng pagreorganisa ng Senado, nung hinain na 'yung motion sa floor, nabakante yung mga posisyon namin, sinegundahan na namin,” Hontiveros said.

Even at the start of the 17th Congress, Hontiveros said the she and her fellow senators have been trying to be independent.

“Bumuo kami ng lumang minority by voting for Senate President Koko. Tapos on burning issues, across partylines, nagbuo kami ng mga alliances even on issues na importante kay Presidente, the executive,” she said.

Despite being removed as chairperson of the Committee on Health,  Hontiveros said she will still be active in pushing for her advocacies.

“[K]ahit nawalan ako ng committee chairmanship, tuloy ang pagtulak ko ng universal healthcare and definitely, tuloy ang pagsulong ng human rights, rule of law, due process. Walang pagpipigil doon,” she said.

“I can be more of a fiscalizer now. The minority can be more of a fiscalizer now,” she added.

Hontiveros then thanked Senator Manny Pacquiao, who moved that the chairmanship of the committees be declared vacant.

“Kung sarili man niya 'yun o assigned siya, nagpapasalamat ako kay Senator Manny for giving me that inspired moment para lumipat sa bagong minorya on matter of principle,” she said. —Erwin Colcol/ALG, GMA News