Senator Sonny Angara on Wednesday assured that he has no problem relinquishing the committees he is handling presently at the Senate to other senators who would comprise the new majority bloc in the 19th Congress but hopes that the principle of the “equity of the incumbent” would be followed.
This early, some senators are already keen on taking key committees in the Senate, with Sen. Imee Marcos, sister of presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. reportedly interested to chair the Senate committee on finance which Angara currently chairs.
Angara said he would be “happy to continue” serving as Senate finance committee chair if the 19th Congress will “respect the equity of the incumbent.”
“I believe in that because nare-respeto din ang (it also maintains respect on) seniority. I’ve been nine (9) years in the chamber. And it’s a way of instilling order also if nire-respeto yun (if that policy is respected),” Angara said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
“Kasi pag ni-rumble mong lahat, marami ang sasama ang loob. Yung chairmen ng existing committees sasabihin bakit dahil nagpalit lang ng pinuno parang hindi nirespecto yung trinabaho natin nung mga nakaraang mga taon (Because if you rumble everything, a lot of senators would be disgruntled. The chair of existing committees might question why there is a change in chairmanshop and they might raise concerns that their work throughout the years does not seem to be honored),” he said.
For his part, Angara said he is open to the possibility of losing the Senate finance committee to another fellow senator.
“Sabi ko open naman ako dahil hindi naman (As I said I am open because)...we don’t have an entitlement. Wala naman tayong (we don’t have a) Torrens title sa mga committees natin (on any of our committees). But at the end of the day, of course, it has to be acceptable to all of our members. It’s not a one-on-one arrangement,” the lawmaker pointed out.
Angara also emphasized that the principle of equity of the incumbent is also traditionally observed in the House of Representatives.
In the Senate, he said it is a “tradition that has been observed over many Congresses.”
“So I don’t know if the incoming Senate President will observe it. I hope so. I think si Sen. Migz (Juan Miguel Zubiri) said he will, as much as possible, adhere,” Angara said.
Zubiri is reportedly among the senators eyeing the Senate presidency. Sen. Cynthia Villar, also one of the senior lawmakers in the 19th Congress is also reportedly considering the Senate presidency.