The ruling bloc elected the chairmen of 48 committees, replacing those belonging to the pro-Estrada minority.
The new chairmen included Representatives Leonardo Montemayor (Agrarian reform), Loretta Ann Rosales (political and human rights), Alan Peter Cayetano (good government), Ignacio Bunye (justice), Juan Miguel Zubiri (natural resources);
Benigno Aquino III (public order and security), Edmund Reyes (suffrage), Oscar Moreno (ways and means), Jose Apolinario Lozada (foreign affairs), and Eduardo Nachura (higher education).
Representatives Oscar Rodriguez and Magtanggol Gunigundo I were chosen members of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.
As of press time, the election of the new chairmen was to be submitted to the entire House in plenary session for confirmation.
Earlier, the chamber elected Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Lakas, Quezon City) as its new Speaker.
Belmonte was former minority leader and manager of the 11-member House panel that prosecuted deposed President Joseph Estrada in his impeachment trial. – Jess Diaz