Facade of the Senate building in Pasay City. (Philippine Daily Inquirer file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — A new set of leaders in the Senate was elected when it opened the 19th Congress on Monday.
Aside from newly-installed Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senator Loren Legarda was also elected Senate President Pro Tempore.
Senator Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, was chosen as the new chairman of the Senate committee on rules.
“Under the rules of the Senate, he is now our Majority Floor Leader,” Zubiri said after the election.
Neophyte Senator Robin Padilla abstained from voting.
“Ginoong Pangulo at sa mga kasamahan ko at lupon ng pagpupulong na ito, nais ko lang po na maging opisyal sa lathaan ng Senado na ako po ay umiiwas sa pagboto sa Majority Floor Leader,” Padilla said.
(Mr. President and colleagues, I just want to make it on official records of the Senate that I’m abstaining from voting for the Majority Floor Leader.)
In a Viber message, Padilla said that his manifestation meant he abstained from voting. He did not elaborate.
In a speech, Villanueva recognized that he would be taking a “great responsibility” of taking care of the Senate.
“My predecessor, Senator Zubiri, has so raised the bar for this office. Keeping up will be a constant challenge, but we are ready to learn and to listen,” he said.
Before assuming the top Senate post, Zubiri served as the Majority floor leader in the last Congress.
“We will burn the midnight oil to live up to the responsibilities. We will not sleep or rest until we finish our job. Kung kailangang trabahong kalabaw o magpakakuba po tayo, nakahanda po tayo kasama ang lahat ng aking staff sa opisina,” Villanueva added.
On the part of the minority, Senator Risa Hontiveros manifested on the Senate floor that Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has been “designated” as the Minority Leader.
“Sen. Koko is a long-time friend, veteran lawmaker, a former Senate President no less, and I’m sure, will make an excellent Minority Leader,” Hontiveros said.
She expressed confidence that Pimentel would help maintain the independence of the Senate.
READ: Senate must have a ‘real minority group,’ says Koko Pimentel
Executive Director for Legislation Renato Bantug was also installed as the new Secretary of the Senate.