Mark Villar named as deputy majority floor leader

FILE PHOTO: Neophyte Senator Mark A. Villar. (Albert Calvelo/ Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Mark Villar is among the upper chamber’s deputy majority floor leaders, Senator Joel Villanueva has revealed.

Asked in an interview at the Senate on Tuesday if Villar is the second deputy majority leader, Villanueva replied: “Yes, I can confirm.”

Villanueva is the Senate majority leader, while Senator Aquilino Pimentel III is the minority leader.

Only Senator Risa Hontiveros and Pimentel belong to the minority bloc.

READ: Senate elects new key leaders; Koko Pimentel’ designated’ Minority Leader

Siblings Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano, meanwhile, are independent members of the upper chamber.

The rest of the senators, including Villar’s mother, Cynthia Villar, belong to the majority bloc.

READ: Supermajority, family ties shape new Senate

Earlier, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the upper chamber is eyeing two deputy majority leaders’ posts. He bared that Senator JV Ejercito has secured a slot. —with reports from Andy Hoo, INQUIRER.net intern

KGA/abc