Senate impasse broken; panels near completion

The Senate finally elected yesterday the chairmen of all but four of its standing committees after breaking an impasse that has paralyzed the chamber for more than three weeks.

The impasse was broken after Senate President Pro Tempore Manuel Villar and Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda agreed that they would head only one committee each.

On the other hand, the majority agreed that they would not require the majority to move for the election of Villar and Legarda "with the unanimous consent of the chamber."

With this agreement, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III ended his "filibuster" that has kept the chamber from organizing its committees. Villar will head the agriculture committee, while Legarda will devote herself to the powerful rules committee.

While there was no motion for the unanimous consent of the chamber in the election of Villar, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. stood up and said that the minority was not objecting to Villar’s election.

Legarda was elected chair of the rules committee and, consequently, the floor leader, on the opening day of the 12th Congress.

Of the 37 standing committee, 26 went to the members of the majority. Of the 11 minority members, four would not be holding any committee chairmanship – Senators Sergio Osmeña III, Vicente Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson, and Pimentel.

"Some minority senators might be heading two committees," Pimentel said.

Sen. John Osmeña of the majority will head three committees: accounts, finance, and local government. Sen. Joker Arroyo will head two committees: Blue Ribbon and public services. Sen. Rene Cayetano will head two: education and energy.

The other committees to be headed by majority senators are: Ramon Magsaysay Jr., banks, science and technology, and defense; Juan Flavier, cultural communities, health, Francis Pangilinan, ethics, justice and human rights, and housing and urban renewal.

Robert Barbers, games, amusement and sports, public order and illegal drugs; Ramon Revilla, public works, and labor; Noli de Castro, social justice and tourism; Ralph Recto, ways and means, and trade and commerce.

The opposition senators with committee chairmanships are: Blas Ople, foreign relations; Tessie Aquino-Oreta, civil service and government reorganization; Edgardo Angara, constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws; Rodolfo Biazon, cooperatives; Robert Jaworski, environment and natural resources; Gregorio Honasan, peace and unification; and Dr. Luisa Ejercito Estrada, youth, women and family relations.

Pimentel still has to identify the opposition senators who will head the committees on agrarian reform, banks, economic affairs and suffrage and electoral reforms. He said that the minority would announce its decision in today’s session.

Angara has proposed that the committee on suffrage and electoral reforms be integrated into the committee on constitutional amendments and revision on codes and laws.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said the proposal would be studied by the rules committee.