Metro Manila, Philippines — Detained Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta were elected to head Senate committees, with Estrada taking on electoral reforms and people’s participation and Marcoleta tourism.
The committee assignments were announced during the plenary session on Wednesday, July 29.
Minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano announced the election of minority members to committee posts, including Marcoleta.
Cayetano initially moved for Estrada to chair the committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies, but later withdrew the motion after saying Senator Mark Villar would instead head the panel.
“But we’re asking the majority leader for possible committees for Senator Estrada, and maybe we can discuss it on Monday,” Cayetano said.
Before the session ended, Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri announced Estrada’s election to head electoral reforms and people’s participation. No one objected.
Zubiri said the post was vacated by Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who was instead elected to lead public works.
In a chance interview after the session, Sotto said he relinquished the electoral reforms chairmanship so Estrada’s staff could continue receiving their salaries, noting that committee personnel are paid from committee budgets.
Senate President Win Gatchalian said Estrada remains a senator despite his detention and 90-day suspension.
“And member siya ng minority, so lahat ng member ng minority mabibigyan ng committee,” Gatchalian said.
[Translation: And he is a member of the minority, so all members of the minority will have a committee.]
“May vice chairman naman who runs the committee. So in that sense, para tumakbo yung committee, yung vice chair ang magpapatakbo,” he added.
[Translation: There is a vice chairman who runs the committee. So in that sense, the vice chairman will run the committee.]
Estrada and Marcoleta are detained on separate plunder charges related to the flood control scandal and the alleged nondisclosure of campaign donations, respectively. Both have denied the allegations.
Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos, the president’s sister and a vocal critic of the administration, was elected deputy minority leader and will serve as an ex officio member of committees.
Here’s a list of the new committee chairmanships:
Electoral Reforms – Jinggoy Estrada
Tourism – Rodante Marcoleta
Public Works – Tito Sotto
Banks – Mark Villar
Cultural Communities – Robin Padilla
Culture and the Arts – Loren Legarda
Public Information – Robin Padilla
Sustainable Development Goals – Pia Cayetano
Government Corporations – Camille Villar
Sports – Bong Go
Youth – Bong Go
Cooperatives – Imee Marcos
Civil Service – Loren Legarda
