MARIKINA Rep. Stella Quimbo will take over as chairperson and lead the House Committee on Appropriations in an acting capacity vice the removal of Rep. Zaldy Co (PL, Ako Bicol) on Monday as panel chair.
“I was advised by the (House) leadership (that) I am to ensure that our Committee on Appropriations will continue to function as before,” Quimbo, a senior vice chair of the panel, told reporters.
When asked if she will eventually be designated as the panel’s chair, Quimbo said: “Basta i-ensure ko na magpa-function siya as before (I assure you that it will function as before).”
The House removed Co as panel chair after the leadership accepted his request to step down from his post so he could focus on attending to his health concerns.
On the motion of presidential son Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, a senior deputy majority leader, the House declared the position vacant without yet naming Co’s replacement.
The move was carried out just almost two weeks after President Marcos Jr. signed the P6.352 trillion national budget for 2025 or this year’s General Appropriations Act (GAA).
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Quimbo will assume the panel’s leadership as officer-in-charge (OIC) under Rule IX, Section 32 of the House Rules which provides that “in case of absence or temporary incapacity of the committee chairperson, the highest-ranking vice-chairperson or the member whose name appears next in the list of committee members shall automatically assume the duties of the chairperson until such time that the latter returns to office and resumes work.”
“In case of a vacancy in the position of committee chairperson by reason of death, resignation, permanent disability, or removal, the vacancy shall also be filled by the member next in succession in the committee list. This member shall perform the duties of the chairperson only until such time that a new chairperson is chosen and assumes office in accordance with Section 31,” the provision states.
Velasco said this means that Quimbo’s designation as the acting leader of the appropriations committee “is in compliance with the rules.” “She is serving as the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the committee and will perform the functions of the chairperson in an acting capacity until the House designates a permanent chairperson in accordance with the applicable rules,” he said.
“This designation ensures the uninterrupted operations of the committee in fulfilling its crucial legislative duties, especially during this period of transition,” he said.