Senate opposition wants one more committee

Why not another one?

The opposition in the Senate is "studying" the majority’s offer of 10 committee chairmanships but is asking for another committee for the minority bloc’s 11 members.

"We are now studying their proposal seriously but there are 11 of us (in the opposition). Why did they give us only 10? We might end up wrangling with each other over a committee," said Sen. Edgardo Angara.

The ruling People Power Coalition (PPC) had earlier offered the 10 committee chairmanships "in the spirit of good working relations with the minority."

But Angara pointed out the majority could have given the opposition 11 committee chairmanships for each member of the minority.

"It should be 11. Eleven for 11," Angara said.

The opposition apparently wants another committee chairmanship for Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. since Majority Leader Loren Legarda is chairing two committees.

Pimentel disclosed there was even an attempt to give Legarda three committees.

The 10 committees offered to the opposition were agrarian reform, civil service and government reorganization, constitutional amendments, cooperatives, economic affairs, electoral reforms, foreign relations, unification and reconciliation, public information and mass media, and youth, women and family relations.

Senate President Franklin Drilon maintained the PPC offered the minority substantial committees to chair "in good faith and with no strings attached."

"The minority has said that there are some shortcomings in the President’s state of the nation address. This is their opportunity to provide guidance through the economic affairs (committee) of what they believe are erroneous policies of government," Drilon noted.

Pimentel announced the minority would announce its decisions on Monday. Drilon said they would settle the issue through caucuses in the spirit of good cooperation.

"I do hope that our minority will see the light and consider these committees as good starting point for our working together in the Senate," Drilon said.