Metro Manila, Philippines — Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Francis “Chiz” Escudero, two of the senators tagged in the flood control corruption scandal, have been elected vice chairperson and member, respectively, of the Senate blue ribbon committee investigating the controversy.
During the plenary session on Monday, May 25, Estrada announced that he and Senator Rodante Marcoleta have been elected vice chairpersons of the committee, replacing Senator Erwin Tulfo.
Estrada was a former member representing the minority bloc under then chairperson Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
Senator Pia Cayetano was recently named chairperson of the prestigious committee, replacing Lacson. Pia is the sister of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, who assumed the leadership post from now Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III two weeks ago, triggering the committee reshuffle.
Meanwhile, Escudero — who was not part of the Lacson-led committee — has now joined the panel alongside Senators Bong Go, Robin Padilla, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, and Imee Marcos.
Estrada and Escudero are under investigation for their alleged involvement in budget insertions and kickbacks tied to flood control projects. Both have denied the allegations.
Another senator tagged in the controversy, Joel Villanueva, was also part of the previous blue ribbon committee. He may now sit as an ex-officio member should he continue serving as majority leader, a post he now holds in an acting capacity.
Villanueva has also denied any involvement in the alleged flood control anomalies. Lacson earlier recommended that Estrada, Escudero, and Villanueva be investigated, but his partial report failed to secure enough signatures to be sponsored and tackled in plenary.
Current blue ribbon committee composition:
Chairperson:
Pia Cayetano
Vice chairpersons:
Rodante Marcoleta
Jinggoy Estrada
Members:
Bong Go
Robin Padilla
Mark Villar
Camille Villar
Chiz Escudero
Imee Marcos
Representatives from the current minority bloc have yet to be determined.
Under Sotto’s leadership, the blue ribbon committee was composed of:
Chairperson:
Ping Lacson
Vice chairperson:
Erwin Tulfo
Former majority members:
JV Ejercito
Risa Hontiveros
Bam Aquino
Pia Cayetano
Win Gatchalian
Lito Lapid
Loren Legarda
Kiko Pangilinan
Raffy Tulfo
Mark Villar
Former minority members:
Rodante Marcoleta
Joel Villanueva
Jinggoy Estrada
Bong Go
Imee Marcos
Robin Padilla
Coup talks
Meanwhile, the 11-member minority bloc is still working to gain support for a possible leadership change in the Senate.
Senator Risa Hontiveros confirmed that some members of the current 13-member majority bloc have expressed intentions to switch sides, although no move has been finalized.
The minority bloc needs at least 13 votes to elect a new Senate president, although Lacson earlier floated the possibility that 12 votes may suffice after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa went into hiding due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Dela Rosa’s surprise appearance two weeks ago allowed Cayetano allies to secure the 13 votes needed to oust Sotto. Cayetano’s short stint has since been marked by the grant of protective custody to Dela Rosa, who later left the Senate following a standoff involving Senate security personnel and National Bureau of Investigation agents.
Despite the tensions, Cayetano on Monday maintained that the 13-member majority bloc remains solid.
Also on Monday, Senator Imee Marcos replaced Hontiveros as chairperson of the electoral reforms committee, while Escudero replaced Senator Raffy Tulfo as head of the labor panel.
