Senators divvy up resigned Sen. Zubiri committees

The Senate has redistributed committees previously assigned to resigned Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, ahead of the Senate Electoral Tribunal’s (SET) anticipated proclamation of Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III as the real winner in the 2007 election.

The SET is scheduled to deliberate on Pimentel’s election protest against Zubiri during a meeting at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Sen. Gregorio Honasan, who is among the six senators belonging to the body.

Pimentel is expected to be declared winner of the 12th and final slot in the 2007 senatorial race, following Zubiri’s resignation and subsequent withdrawal of his counter-protest.

In the meantime, three committees originally chaired by Zubiri were now assigned to Senators Manuel Lapid (cooperatives), Francis Escudero (environment), and Francis Pangilinan (oversight committee on official development assistance).

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III also replaced Zubiri as the Senate representative to the Mindanao Development Authority.

But Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said the redistribution of Zubiri’s committee assignments did not necessarily mean that nothing would be left for Pimentel.

“He will have his committee chairmanship, for sure,” he told the Inquirer.