Joel Villanueva elected as new minority leader in Commission on Appointments

Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday took his oath as the new minority floor leader of the Commission on Appointments (CA), replacing Senator Risa Hontiveros.

This came after the Senate elected a new batch of senators to sit as members of the bicameral commission, following the change of leadership in the upper chamber. 

Aside from Villanueva, Senator Loren Legarda was also sworn in as the new CA assistant majority floor leader. 

Also taking their oaths as newly-elected members of the CA are Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Senator Lito Lapid. 

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who is serving as the ex officio chairman of the CA, administered their oath during the plenary session. 

The powerful CA is mandated to approve or disapprove appointments made by the President of the Philippines, the confirmation of which is required under the 1987 Constitution.

The commission’s function “forms part of the very delicate mechanism of checks and balances established by the Constitution to ensure that the coordinate departments of the government will function in a way that will be most conducive to the public welfare.” —RF, GMA Integrated News