JV Ejercito sees Senate, House rift a factor in leadership change

Conflict between some members of the Senate and those of the House of Representatives is one of the reasons why senators decided to have a leadership change, Senator JV Ejercito said Monday. 

“Siguro nasobrahan na ‘yung siraan ng both houses, eh. It has affected the institutions already. Ako naman, I think ‘yung mga issues kay Sen. Chiz, kay Sen. Joel, it’s part of the demolition job. But it’s already affecting the Senate, and we have to save the institution,” Ejercito said in an ambush interview. 

(Maybe the fight between both Houses has gone too far. It has affected the institutions already. I believe the issues with Sen. Chiz and Sen Joel are part of a demolition job, but it's already affecting the Senate, and we have to save the institution.) 

To recall, Escudero previously alleged that when hae was linked to the flood control controversy, those part of what he called a "demolition job" were those in support of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, particularly from the House of Representatives.

Escudero had denied involvement in any flood control projects in his home province of Sorsogon and other parts of the country. But he admitted that Lawrence Lubiano, president of the Centerways Construction and Development Inc., was his campaign contributor in the 2022 elections.

Villanueva, meanwhile, also denied that he had any transaction with former Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara, one of the people being linked to anomalous flood control projects in the province.

The former majority leader maintained that photos and videos circulating online of him and Alcantara are not evidence of any illegal transactions. He also added that there were photos of Alcantara with other politicians. 

Will of majority

Meanwhile, newly elected Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that the flood control issue was not the reason for Escudero’s ouster. 

“Wala, walang ganoon. Basta’t nagkaron lang ng change of leadership. Pangkaraniwan lang naman ‘to eh diba, hindi naman ‘to uncommon na nangyari sa Senate,” Lacson told reporters.

(No, there’s nothing like that. There was just a change of leadership. It's normal, it's not uncommon that it happened in the Senate.)

Lacson pointed out that there’s nothing permanent when it comes to position, and the leadership change happens if the majority of the senators want. –NB, GMA Integrated News