Drilon, Recto, Cayetano seen to emerge leaders of next Senate

(From left) Senators Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto and Jinggoy Estrada: Expected Senate President, Senate President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader, respectively. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Senate insiders expect a major overhaul of the chamber’s leadership once the 16th Congress opens one week from now.

Sen. Franklin Drilon is expected to be the next Senate President, while Liberal Party (LP) mate Sen. Ralph Recto would replace Sen. Jinggoy Estrada as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, the chamber’s minority leader during the 15th Congress, is expected to become the next majority leader. Cayetano belongs to the Nacionalista Party (NP), which aligned with the LP during the last senatorial election.

Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile reportedly plans to challenge Drilon in a vote on the first day of the session but only so he would be named the minority leader once he loses to Drilon.

Tradition

By tradition, whoever loses to the Senate President becomes the minority leader.

Enrile and his allies in the so-called macho bloc have vowed to keep the new majority on their toes by closely scrutinizing all bills that would be presented in the chamber.

Observers noted that since Sen. Pia Cayetano (NP) would no longer be majority leader, she is likely to retain her chairmanship of the committee on women, youth and family relations.

Estrada

Estrada is also expected to retain the chairmanship of the labor committee, and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III of the electoral reforms committee.

Sen. Cynthia Villar (NP), who was vocal about her interest in the agriculture committee, is likely to get the job. Reelected Sen. Loren Legarda may also get her wish to head the committees on environment and climate change as part of her campaign advocacies.

Wishes

Reelected Sen. Francis Escudero, who expressed a preference for the education committee, and Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, who is eyeing the powerful finance committee, are likely to get their wishes too, sources said.

The Senate has 35 regular or standing committees and 39 oversight committees.