Zubiri wants Angara to remain Senate finance panel chair

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday said he wanted Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara to retain his chairmanship of the Senate finance committee and returning senator Loren Legarda to sit as the next Senate President Pro Tempore.

The lawmaker made the remark at a press conference but he refused to comment on the issue of Senate leadership in the 19th Congress.

“We have Sonny Angara, I feel strongly that he should remain as finance [chairman]. Magaling si Sonny very fair, very transparent ang dealings n’ya. Whoever becomes the [Senate president], I will really recommend that Sonny Angara will remain as the finance chair and the others are still up for grabs,” Zubiri said

“Of course, Senate president pro tempore, one of the most, if not the most senior member of the Senate, Senator Loren Legarda is also eyeing the position and I strongly support her for Senate president pro tempore,” he added.

Last week, it was reported that Senator Imee Marcos, the sister of presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., was eyeing to chair the Senate finance panel.

Angara last Wednesday said he is “open” to giving the chairmanship of the Senate finance committee to Marcos but he raised the need for the 19th Congress to follow the principle of “equity of the incumbent.”

The Senate finance committee handles all matters relating to funds for the expenditures of the national government and for the payment of public indebtedness; auditing of accounts and expenditures of the National Government; claims against the government; intergovernmental revenue sharing; and, in general, all matters relating to public expenditures, according to Rule X, Section 13 (4) of the Rules of the Senate.

Meanwhile, Senator Marcos is also pushing for Senator Cynthia Villar to lead the Senate, following the end of the 18th Congress on June 30.

Zubiri, Villar, and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian are among the senators who are reportedly vying for the Senate’s top post in the 19th Congress.—AOL, GMA News