3 Senators Decline Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairmanship Leaving Pia Cayetano, Risa Hontiveros on the Race
PIA CAYETANO, RISA HONTIVEROS – After three (3) senators declined the post, the two senators are the remaining bets for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee leadership.
After some senators were tagged in the flood control mess, the Senate did not only have a change of leadership but as well as a change of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee leadership. From the lead of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson took over.
The Senate presidency was also transferred from Sen. Chiz Escudero to Sen. Tito Sotto. Despite the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or the ICI, a three-member body that Pres. Bongbong Marcos ordered to be formed for the flood control investigation, the Senate continued its flood control probe.
However, recently, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Ping Lacson tendered his resignation. According to Senate Pres. Tito Sotto, Sen. Lacson is ‘frustrated’ over the remarks of their fellow senators on the flood probe and he understands his side “to some extent”.
Following the resignation of Lacson, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto previously announced that there are five (5) senators who are candidates for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairmanship. They are the following:
- Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
- Sen. JV Ejercito
- Sen. Risa Hontiveros
- Sen. Raffy Tulfo
- Sen. Pia Cayetano
However, three (3) senators already declined the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairmanship. According Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, it will be an “unwise” move to accept the Blue Ribbon Committee as his fourth committee. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Pangilinan is currently the chairman of the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform; Justice and Human Rights; and Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Sen. Pia Cayetano are the remaining bets for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairmanship after senators JV Ejercito and Raffy Tulfo also declined the post. According to Sen. Ejercito, he knows his limitations but he is thankful for being considered for the post.
In the case of Sen. Raffy Tulfo, he stressed that he does not want to lose his focus on his three (3) committees which he called his “main advocacies”. Who will be between senators Pia Cayetano and Risa Hontiveros will be the next chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee?
Sen. Ping Lacson previously confirmed that Zaldy Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez will be invited to the Senate flood probe. Amid the change in leadership of the Blue Ribbon Committee, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto spoke about inviting Zaldy Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the flood probe.