Marcoleta gets blue ribbon; Kiko, Bam also head panels
An ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte has been named chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee, a body tasked to look into allegations of government irregularities and whose findings and recommendations often provide the basis for the criminal prosecution of concerned officials.
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was elected on Tuesday to head the panel, also known as the Senate committee on accountability of public officers and investigations, in one of the key developments following the opening of the 20th Congress on Monday. The panel was previously chaired by Sen. Pia Cayetano.
The neophyte is part of the so-called “Duter7” bloc in the Senate composed of other known allies of Duterte—Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Christopher “Bong” Go, Robin Padilla, Imee Marcos, and siblings Camille and Mark Villar.
Marcoleta, a lawyer who previously represented the Sagip party list in the House of Representatives, got the sixth highest number of votes in the last senatorial race.
He is also known as a staunch defender of Vice President Sara Duterte when the former president’s daughter was hounded by House investigations into her public spending.
The House inquiries later formed part of the basis for her impeachment by the House in February, a move declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last week but whose ultimate direction is still in the hands of the new Senate as an impeachment court.
What Kiko, Bam got
Two returning senators, who ran as opposition candidates in the May midterm elections but surprised many allies and supporters when they decided to join the majority, are getting their own chairmanships.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan will head the committee on agriculture, while Sen. Bam Aquino will lead the committee on basic education.
Aside from the blue ribbon committee, Marcoleta was also elected chair of the committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship.
From mom to daughter
Two committees—games and amusement, and social justice welfare and rural development—were assigned to rookie Sen. Erwin Tulfo.
Another neophyte in the chamber, Sen. Camille Villar, will lead the committee on environment, which was headed during the last Congress by her mother, former Sen. Cynthia Villar.
Marcos, Padilla and Go will head three committees each.
Marcos will continue to head the committees on foreign affairs and cooperatives, aside from the labor committee, which was previously held by the majority leader, Sen. Joel Villanueva.
Padilla will also continue to lead the committees on public information mass media, constitutional amendments and revision of codes, and cultural communities and Muslim affairs. Go was reelected chair of the committees on health, youth, and sports.
Dela Rosa retained the chairmanship of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs. Sen. Mark Villar was reelected chair of the committee on public works.
Like in the last Congress, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano will chair four committees—accounts; higher, technical and vocational education; science and technology, and justice and human rights, previously chaired by then Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel.
Finance, ways and means
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is the new head of the committee on finance, while Sen. Pia Cayetano will head two committees—ways and means and energy.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo will continue to lead his two committees—public services and migrant workers.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and his half-brother, Sen. JV Ejercito, also kept their chairmanships of national defense and local government panels, respectively.
