EVEN before the 19th Congress could convene, Sen. Cynthia Villar yesterday already gave up her bid to become the next Senate president and conceded to incumbent Senate majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
“Wala nang SP race. Hindi na (ako interesado) (There is no more SP race. I am not interested anymore),” Villar said.
Villar also said she was no longer keen on pursuing a term sharing deal with Zubiri, just a day after Sen. Ronald dela Rosa disclosed that the lady senator has offered to split the Senate presidency term with the reelected senator.
Yesterday, Villar said: “Ayoko na (I am not interested anymore). I want a simple life.”
She said she has already informed Zubiri about her decision.
In appreciation of her backing out, Villar said Zubiri has promised to “take care” of the eight senators who have pledged their support to the former.
Zubiri thanked Villar for giving way to him.
“A united Senate is a productive one, so from the very beginning, I’ve always wanted to form a super majority in the Senate. So, I would like to thank Ma’am Cynthia Villar from the bottom of my heart for her support, graciousness, and magnanimity in helping me form a super majority,” Zubiri said.
He added: “I also thank all my colleagues who believe in me and for their trust and confidence in my ability to lead the Senate in the 19th Congress.” Zubiri has served as Senate majority leader in the 14th, 17th, and 18th Congresses.
Villar’s concession to Zubiri came after the latter on Monday night met with President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at his headquarters in Mandaluyong City to discuss the incoming administration’s legislative agenda.
Also present in the meeting were incoming House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who was joined by Iloilo Rep. Janet Garin and Isabela Rep. Tonypet Albano.
Zubiri was accompanied by Senators Nancy Binay, Ronald dela Rosa, JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, Manuel Lapid, Loren Legarda, Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Raffy Tulfo.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIPS
Zubiri yesterday disclosed the new committee chairmanships for the incoming 19th Congress.
Senator-elect Loren Legarda will be the next president pro-tempore while reelected Sen. Joel Villanueva will be the majority leader.
Senators Sherwin Gatchalian will be the chairman of the committee on basic education and ways and means; Nancy Binay, committee on tourism; Juan Edgardo Angara, committee on finance; Francis Tolentino, committee public accountability or blue ribbon; Imee Marcos, foreign relations; Raffy Tulfo, energy; Robin Padilla, constitutional amendments; Christopher Go, sports and health; Francis Escudero, justice; Ramon Revilla Jr., public works; Grave Poe, public services and banks; Manuel Lapid, games; and JV Ejercito, local government and higher education.
Zubiri said the Senate will split the labor committee into two — for domestic labor, to be headed by Senator-elect Jinggoy Estrada, and for OFW concerns, to be headed also by Tulfo.
He has yet to name other senators to their new committees.
GOODBYE
“Graduating” and exiting senators yesterday bade their colleagues goodbye as Congress goes into sine die adjournment on June 3.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III banged the Senate gavel on his last day as senator, a job that he has held for 24 years since 1992.
Sottto has finished his two consecutive terms as a senator. He ran for vice president in the last elections but lost to Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Sotto reminded his colleagues in the next Congress to “maintain the integrity and independence of the Senate” when he delivered his valedictory speech and thanked the senators he has worked with for the past years.
“Today, as I stand before my colleagues and the Filipino people on my last day as Senate President, I have one final and earnest appeal to the incoming 19th Congress: Maintain the integrity and independence of the Senate. Huwag ninyong payagan na mabahiran ng politika ang inyong serbisyo sa taumbayan. Ingatan niyo ang respetong ibinibigay ng bawat Pilipino sa Senado at sa mga miyembro nito (Do not allow politics to taint the Senate as you serve the people. Preserve the respect given by the Filipino people to the Senate and to its members),” Sotto said.
He added: “I have been in public service for decades already. My journey has been long and arduous, but it had its shining moments. My years at the Senate — as Senate President and as a regular senator — are the highlights of my career as a public servant. I can and I will show off my legislative accomplishments not only to my grandkids but to the younger generations, proud and guilt-free that I have not abused my position to enrich myself or any member of my family. I have kept my credibility intact and my name, unsullied.”
Sotto thanked his colleagues for the trust that they have entrusted in him when they elected him as Senate President in 2018.
“Today, it is with a sense of gratitude that I close the 18th Congress as the Senate President — a distinction given by my esteemed colleagues. I hope that I have not been a disappointment…To my colleagues who have supported me from the beginning, I thank you. I shall treasure your friendship and commitment of cooperation. I extol the hard work that you have put into your individual committees. I will forever admire your integrity and nationalism,” he said.
He likewise thanked the officers and employees of the Senate Secretariat “who made sure that the legislative wheels kept turning,” and the members of the media who have been covering the Senate.
“I give you my thanks. As members of the press, you have a vital role in maintaining transparency and accountability in government. As our bridge to and from the public, your work is always appreciated,” Sotto said.
Sotto turned sentimental when he “look(ed) back on that day in 1992 when I was first elected into office. I remember entering the old Senate building, which is now a national museum, as a neophyte senator. (Today) as the 18th Congress comes to a close, so shall my term as Senator.”
“The sweet-sorrow of parting is real. I have come to love the Senate, its members, the secretariat, and the plain serenity of being at its premises. It will always have a special place in my heart,” he said.
Senate president pro-tempore Ralph Recto, who is also a “graduating” senator, also thanked his colleagues.
“Dumating na po tayo sa punto na kailangan nating magpaalam, pero pansamantala lang (I have come to the point that I need to say goodbye, but that is only temporary. Ika nga (As they say), ‘A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. Every hour spent here was a teachable moment to me. Every day is a blessing because it brough forth the chance to make a difference,” Recto said.
Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon, who was Senate president four times, said he is proud to be “part of the large work that has already been done for the nation.”
“I am humbled by the knowledge that there remains so much more to be accomplished by a generation of legislators that will no longer include myself. My dear colleagues, the work of democracy is never finished. The challenge is to do better, to never be complacent, to be not disillusioned by our imperfect democracy or be attracted by the tempting notion that we have too much of it,” Drilon said.
“My fellow Senators, I stand before you, proud and honored to have worked with you in this esteemed institution. I cannot thank you enough for your trust and confidence. I am forever grateful to the senators, past and present, for electing me Senate President four times. It was truly an honor to lead the institution in nearly nine of my 24 years as senator,” he added.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said his “long journey of 50 years” as a public servant has come to end.
Lacson is eligible for re-election but instead chose to run for president in the last elections.
“Yes, I am finally going home and allow the evolution of our country’s long line of legislators to take its course. Goodbye and good luck to my dear friends and colleagues. The same wish goes to all the staff and employees of the Philippine Senate,” Lacson said.
Senators Emmanuel Pacquiao and Richardo Gordon also bade their colleagues goodbye. Pacquiao is also eligible for re-election but ran for president, while Gordon sought re-election but lost.
Also leaving the Senate are Senators Francis Pangilinan, who lost in his vice presidential bid, and Leila de Lima, who also lost in her reelection bid.
