Villar to take minority slot at Commission on Appointments
MANILA, Philippines – After deciding not to put any member in the ethics committee hearing the complaint against former Senate President Manuel Villar, the Senate minority bloc assigned the latter as representative in the powerful Commission on Appointments.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr said Villar will represent the minority bloc in the 25-man CA together with Senators Joker Arroyo and Alan Peter Cayetano.
Pimetel said another minority member, Senator Francis Pangilinan, will also sit in the CA to occupy one of the two seats for the Liberal Party.
Pimentel said they have agreed during the caucus not to designate members to the committee on ethics, headed by Senator Panfilo Lacson, looking into the charge of breach of the conflict of interest rule filed against Villar during his term as Senate President.
On November 17, Villar quit the top Senate post after 13 senators signed a resolution ousting him from the post.
“That is my understanding of the outcome of our initial discussion on the matter,” Pimentel said, adding that he will still try if there will be a change in the decision of the members of the minority bloc.
“As minority leader, I cannot just say one thing without consulting my members. I think when the session resumes by January, we will have a final stand,” Pimentel said.
He said the ethics committee is just one of the many committees where minority senators have yet to decide their membership.
Pimentel said the minority senators are still finalizing their assignments as chairpersons and members of various standing committees.
He said the committees that will be given to the minority senators include agrarian reform, tourism, social justice ad human rights, mass media and public information, and cultural communities.
On the other hand, Senators Pangilinan and Pilar Juliana Cayetano were assigned to represent the minority in the Senate Electoral Tribunal.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile earlier said the contingent of the majority bloc in the CA will include Senators Richard Gordon, Ramon Revilla Jr, Gregorio Honasan II, Panfilo Lacson, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Rodolfo Biazon, Senate Pro-Tempore Jose Estrada, Ma. Ana Consuelo Madrigal and Manuel Roxas II.
On the other hand, those assigned to represent the majority bloc in the SET were Senators Edgardo Angara, Manuel Lapid, Loren Legarda and Benigno Simeon Aquino III. – Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV
Tags: alan peter cayetano, aquilino pimentel jr, liberal party, loren legarda, panfilo lacson, richard gordon, senate president, senators
