Robin Padilla wants to head Senate constitutional amendments, defense panels

Senator-elect Robin Padilla is eyeing the chairmanship of the the Senate committee on constitutional amendments as part of his bid to push for charter change.

“Aba syempre, reporma, constitutional reform number one yun. Pangalawa, sa security and defense ng Pilinas… chairmanship kasi kung member ka lang sayang naman pagka-number one natin,” Padilla said in Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras”.

(Of course, we’re pushing for reform… constitutional reform. That’s number one. Second is the security and defense of the Philippines… chairmanship, because what good would my being number one senator be if I can't get chairmanships.)

Aside from the neophyte legislator, returning senator JV Ejercito has also expressed intent to head the defense panel.

Ejercito explained if the “equity of the incumbent” will be followed, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go will likely be the chairman of the health committee, which he currently heads.

“’Yung talks with the individual senators, that we cannot deny. Syempre, may mga offers din po sila sa amin pero wala pa kaming desisyon kasi July 25 pa naman ‘yun opening ng session,” he said.

(We cannot deny there were talks with individual senators. Of course, they are offering something to us but we have yet to arrive at a decision. The opening of the session is still on July 25.)

As for the senate presidency, Ejercito said Senators Cynthia Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri are the top contenders.  Zubiri and Ejercito belong to the so-called "seatmates bloc" in the Senate, which also includes Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Loren Legarda and Grace Poe.

Zubiri confirmed his group is pushing him to lead the chamber.

“I think we have a substantial number but not yet more than 13. But of course, if we combine the three groups together we’ll have a supermajority,” he said.

Villanueva said he would adhere to what the “seatmates bloc” will decide.

“I’m a member of the Seatmates Group so kung ano man ang mapag-usapan doon sa grupo na yon, I will submit to the wisdom of our group,” he said.

GMA News reached out to other members of the group for their comments but has yet to receive their response.

Meanwhile, lone opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said she is “open” to supporting incumbent Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel should he declare interest to lead the minority bloc.

“If Sen. Koko is interested to lead it, I’m very open to supporting him. Basta ang number one priority ko ngayon ay ang pagbubuo ng minorya and bahagi ng pagbubuo ng minorya 'yung division of labor namin,” Hontiveros said.

(If Sen. Koko is interested in leading it, I’m very open to supporting him. My priority right now are to build the minority bloc and part of that is the division of labor.)

“Ang pinaka importante maging tunay kami, makapag check-and-balance at fiscalize at epektibo maging sa legislations,” she said.

(What is most important is for us to be genuine minority, ensure checks-and-balances, fiscalize and be effective in legislation.)

Returning Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said he is still undecided about which bloc to join.

“My inclination is to wait kung paano nila binubuo ang majority. Is it for starting ng mga committee? Is it sipsipan sa Malacanang? Is this 'this is the Senate, we need people who will stand either as a bridge or as a wall with Malacañang? A bridge if maganda ang ginagawa, a wall kung tatamaan ang tao. It depends on the character',” he said.

Neophyte Senator Raffy Tulfo voiced out intention to join the majority.

“Mas madali ko po maisusulong ang mga batas na gusto kong ipapanukala, ipapasa. Mas marami po akong magagawa,” he said.

(It will be easier for me to push my legislative agenda. I can do more.)

GMA News also sought the comment of Villar but her camp refused to issue a statement saying it is still “too early" to do so.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News