Senate elects new committee chairpersons, members

The Senate on Wednesday elected new chairpersons, vice chairpersons, and members for some permanent committees, following another change in leadership in the chamber.

During the special session, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved for the election of the chairpersons for the following panels:

• Committee on Basic Education: Sen. Bam Aquino
• Committee on Trade Commerce and Entrepreneurship: Sen. Bam Aquino
• Committee on Science and Technology: Sen. Bam Aquino
• Committee on Finance: Sen. JV Ejercito
• Committee on Local Government: Sen. JV Ejercito
• Committee on Health and Demography: Sen. Risa Hontiveros
• Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality: Sen. Risa Hontiveros
• Committee on Ways and Means: Sen. Ping Lacson
• Committee on Games and Amusement: Sen. Lito Lapid
• Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes: Sen. Francis Pangilinan
• Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform: Sen. Francis Pangilinan
• Committee on Justice and Human Rights: Sen. Francis Pangilinan
• Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation: Sen. Tito Sotto
• Committee on Ethics and Privileges: Sen. Tito Sotto
• Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon): Sen. Erwin Tulfo
• Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development: Sen. Erwin Tulfo
• Committee on Energy: Sen. Erwin Tulfo
• Committee on Public Services: Sen. Raffy Tulfo
• Committee on Migrant Workers: Sen. Raffy Tulfo
• Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development: Sen. Joel Villanueva
• Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education: Sen. Joel Villanueva
• Committee on Foreign Relations: Sen. Migz Zubiri
• Committee on Rules: Sen. Migz Zubiri

Zubiri noted that the chairpersons of some of the committees were already elected during the session on June 3.

The following senators were likewise elected as members of the powerful Commission on Appointments: Lacson, Zubiri, Villanueva, Hontiveros, Sotto, Raffy Tulfo, and Ejercito.

Meanwhile, Aquino, Pangilinan, Lapid, and Escudero were named members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

During the special session, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was formally elected as the new Senate president, settling the two-week leadership row with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Sotto was also elected as the Senate President Pro Tempore, while Zubiri retained his post as the Majority Leader.

Ejercito was also designated as the Senior Deputy Majority Leader, while Villanueva was named the Deputy Majority Leader. — RSJ, GMA News