SENATORS on Tuesday night elected the chairmen of the various committees of the Senate after a closed-door meeting to finalize the assignments.
Neophyte Sen. Robin Padilla, a non-lawyer and formerly an actor, will lead discussions on all measures that will be referred to the committee on constitutional amendments, including proposed changes to the 1987 Constitution and the shift to a federal form of government.
On the other hand, former broadcaster-turned-lawmaker Sen. Raffy Tulfo will chair the committee on energy and lead stakeholders in finding ways to address the high-cost of petroleum and other fuel products and the energy crisis.
Padilla topped the Senate race in the May 9 elections, while Tulfo ranked second.
The contested chairmanship of the committee on accountability of public officers and investigations, or more popularly known as the Blue Ribbon committee, was given to Sen. Francis Tolentino, who beat Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who also had his eyes on the powerful panel.
Cayetano was instead named chairman of the committee on government corporations and public enterprises, which handles proposed legislation related to government corporations, including all amendments to their charters; the interests of the government in the different industrial and commercial enterprises, and privatization.
Half-brothers and returning Senators JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada were named chairmen of the committee on local government and national defense, respectively.
Sen. Mark Villar, who is the son of Sen. Cynthia Villar and former Senate president Manny Villar, will chair the committee on trade, while Sen. Francis Escudero will head the committee on higher education.
Reelectionist Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was named chairman of the committee on ways and means, which has jurisdiction overall matters relating to revenues, taxes and fees, tariffs, loans and other sources and forms of government income.
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara was retained as chairman of the finance committee, while the committee on accounts was given to Sen. Nancy Binay, committee on dangerous drugs to Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, committee on health to Sen. Christopher Go, and the committee on women and gender equality to Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
Sen. Manuel Lapid was named chairman of the committee on games, Sen. Imee Marcos, committee on foreign relations and social justice; Sen. Grace Poe, public services; Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., committee on public works, Sen. Cynthia Villar, committee on agriculture; Sen. Pia Cayetano, committee on sustainable development goals.
The chairpersons of the other committees will be named on Monday.
