Almost done: Sotto says 95% of Senate committee chairmanships settled
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III bangs the gavel to formally open the third regular session of the Senate on July 23, 2018. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Ninety-five percent of committee chairmanships at the Senate have already been decided, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has said.
According to Sotto, only one to two committees remain under “minimal contentions.”
Sotto and some colleagues were at a dinner organized Wednesday evening by Senator Manny Pacquiao in Makati City. Among the issues tackled during supper at Pacquiao’s residence was the chairmanships of Senate committees for the incoming 18th Congress.
READ: Senators gather for dinner at Pacquiao’s Makati residence
“Ninety-five (95) percent. We assume all is well. Just 1 or 2 committees na lang,” Sotto replied in a text message when asked how the upper chamber has resolved the matter.
“May kaunti na lang contentions na committee,” he added.
Sotto said neophyte Senator Francis Tolentino will get the committee on local government. He also revealed that another neophyte senator, Imee Marcos, is “seeking for different committees.”
“[Tolentino] will get Local Government. Imee is seeking different [committees]. I’m fixing it. After I sort it out na lang. [Imee] prefers Social Welfare and Rural Development in her submission,” Sotto disclosed.
The Senate President said no meetings among senators are expected until July “unless something important comes up.” But he assured the senators that the issue on committee chairmanship would be “fixed by next week.”
In a separate text message to INQUIRER.net, Sotto said: “I asked everyone to submit their committee preferences, which I will sort out then will present it back to them by next week for everyone’s approval. All is well.”
Sotto earlier said some newly-elected senators were eyeing to lead committees that are currently held by incumbent senators.
READ: Sotto confirms conflict over committee chairmanships
The Senate President said they would explain to the neophyte senators the equity of the incumbent rule being practiced in the upper chamber.
Welcome dinner
Aside from discussing committee chairmanships, Sotto said the dinner hosted by Pacquiao was held to welcome incoming members of the Senate.
“It was an introduction and welcome dinner for the incoming senators by the current 17th Congress majority members. I gave some historical background of the present majority,” Sotto said.
Aside from Sotto, other attendees to Wednesday’s gathering at Pacquiao’s home were Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto; Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri; incumbent Senators Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Grace Poe, and Richard Gordon; reelected Senator Sonny Angara and Nancy Binay; outgoing Senators Gringo Honasan and Loren Legarda; newly-elected Senators Imee Marcos, Francis Tolentino, Christopher “Bong” Go, and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa; and returning Senators Lito Lapid and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)
