Lacson gets 3 choice committee chairmanships

MANILA, Philippines – Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who played a major role in the ouster of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. as Senate president last Monday, would be heading three major committees under the new leadership of the legislative chamber.

Newly installed Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Lacson would be heading the Ways and Means committee, the Ethics committee and the Accounts committee.

The Ways and Means committee was previously chaired by Sen. Francis Escudero.

The Ethics and Privileges committee was led by Sen. Pia Cayetano, who also previously chaired the Accounts committee that handles all issues relating to the auditing and adjustment of all accounts chargeable against the funds for the expenses and activities of the Senate.

Enrile said the appointment of Lacson to the three committees formed part of his efforts to overhaul the organization in the Senate.

“I was advised that was the prerogative of the Senate president but, on the other hand, I will have to give it (Accounts committee) to Senator Lacson to allow us (to see) how the (Senate) funds are being spent,” Enrile said.

He said Lacson had specifically requested the Accounts committee.

No one among the senators wanted to handle the Ethics and the Ways and Means committees except Lacson, Enrile said.

He said other senators were not keen on getting the chairmanship of the Senate committee on Ethics and Privileges since it would entail judging the reputation of a colleague.

The Ways and Means committee, on the other hand, takes care of all matters relating to general revenue, taxes and fees, tariffs, loans and other sources and forms of revenue.

The new assignment for committee chairmanships will be formalized during plenary session on Monday, Enrile said.

But this early, a member of the new minority bloc  – former majority leader Francis Pangilinan – said he hopes that Lacson will be prudent in assuming the Senate Ethics committee.

Pangilinan said the case on the alleged double insertion of P200 million in the 2008 budget for the C5 Road Extension is now pending at the Ethics committee.

Lacson had accused Villar of making the insertion, which was among the issues that led to the ouster of the former Senate leader.

According to Pangilinan, Lacson – if indeed appointed to the Ethics committee – should also reconsider since he had previously inhibited himself from the committee when he was still a member. 

Lacson had inhibited himself since he was the one who exposed Villar’s alleged role in the double insertion issue.

Lacson claimed the double insertions were made to push for the construction of the C5 Road extension, and benefit the real estate projects of Villar’s construction companies.

Finance to Angara, agriculture to Loren

Enrile also announced fellow administration Sen. Edgardo Angara would head the committee on Finance, and the concurrent chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies. 

Sen. Loren Legarda will get the Agriculture committee, which Angara formerly chaired.

Enrile said Sen. Manuel Roxas II “will probably get (the committee on) education” and retain his chairmanship of the Senate committee on Trade and Industry.

The chairmanship of the powerful Blue Ribbon committee – currently tackling the controversial P728-million fertilizer fund scam and the “euro generals” issue involving retired police director Eliseo de la Paz – is going to be a toss up between Senators Richard Gordon and Escudero.

“Either Chiz or Dick Gordon but more likely it will go to Dick Gordon,” Enrile said.

Escudero is also likely to retain his chairmanship of the Senate committee on Justice and Human Rights, as well as the seat on the Judicial Bar Council, which remained with Pangilinan under Villar’s watch.

As far as Enrile is concerned, he believes that the chairman of the Justice committee should also be the representative to the JBC. 

Opposition Sen. Jamby Madrigal will lead the environment committee, replacing Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Sen. Lito Lapid, who voted for Enrile, was at a loss whether he would join the majority or the minority groups at the Senate.

Lapid is being positioned to head the Games and Amusement committee.

“He voted for me. He (Lapid) indicated he will join (the majority), nobody talked to him,” Enrile said. Asked if Lapid will keep the Senate committee on games and amusement, Enrile replied: “Yes, he wants to play games, I’ll give him the games and amusement, he wants to be amused.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said he wanted to retain his leadership of the Senate committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development. 

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., on the other hand, will likely retain the committee on Public Works and Highways and the Public Services committee.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago relayed her interest to retain her hold of the Senate committee on Foreign Relations, Enrile said.

Enrile said Santiago sent him a letter stressing her interest in continuing her chairmanship of the committee.

But Enrile said he still has to discuss Santiago’s request with the rest of the new majority, which is now composed of 14 senators from the administration and the opposition.

“Because I made it a rule I will have to discuss all issues with the group, it’s an open, transparent grouping and everything must be discussed with the members of the group,” Enrile pointed out.

Santiago also chairs the Senate committee on Energy, and the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Energy. Enrile said Santiago’s letter focused merely on her committee preferences.

The role of the minority

Senator Pangilinan revealed yesterday that the new minority group would play a role under the leadership of Enrile.

Pangilinan revealed that Villar, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and former minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and himself have agreed to work as “checks and balance for the majority.”

Pangilinan noted that Malacañang has more to gain in the change in Senate leadership.

Pimentel added the minority group, along with Senators Joker Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III, and the Cayetano siblings, will remain vigilant.

Enrile revealed the minority will get committee chairmanships but only after the majority has been accommodated.

After the committee chairmanships, Enrile said the Senate would then tackle the new composition of the Commission on Appointments (CA) and those who will go to the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET).