Metro Manila, Philippines — Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta have been elected to head Senate committees despite being in detention, with Estrada taking the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation and Marcoleta the Committee on Tourism.
The new committee assignments were announced during the Senate plenary session on Wednesday, July 29.
Minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano announced the election of minority members to several committee posts, including Marcoleta as chairperson of the committee on tourism.
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 as chairperson of the committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation. No senator objected to the motion.
Zubiri said the post was vacated by Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who was instead elected chairperson of the committee on 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 likewise defended the appointment, stressing that 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.
“May vice chairman naman who runs the committee. So in that sense, para tumakbo yung committee, yung vice chair ang magpapatakbo,” he added.
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 Senate 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
