Hontiveros wants Senate Health committee; Legarda eyes Defense

Sen. Risa Hontiveros —PHOTO FROM SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS/FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Newly elected Senate President Vicente Sotto III gave a glimpse of the changes to be implemented in the upper chamber’s committee leadership following the ouster of his predecessor, Senate President Francis Escudero.

In an interview on Tuesday, Sotto said Risa Hontiveros is looking at handling another committee.

“She’s looking at being the chairperson of the committee on health,” he said.

Sotto said Sen. Loren Legarda is interested in handling the committee on defense, adding that the panel on foreign relations may also be given to her.

READ: Escudero ousted; Sotto back as Senate leader

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who supported Sotto as Senate president, will keep his post as chairman of the finance committee.

“We all feel that he would be able to cope with the rigors of being the chair of the committee on finance,” said Sotto over ANC.

READ: Lacson to head Senate blue ribbon committee

According to Sotto, Sen. Bam Aquino and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan are also bound to keep their respective chairmanships for the panels on education and agriculture.

“We will be discussing it later, but there are possibilities of the committee on labor, because it is originally a preference of Sen. Raffy Tulfo. I think the committee on tourism, Sen. Camille Villar, is interested, or Sen. Lito Lapid,” said Sotto.

The newly elected leader earlier disclosed to reporters that Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson will be the new chairperson of the chamber’s blue ribbon panel. /cb