Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri may well be the next Senate President after he announced on Wednesday, June 1 several chairmen of committees in the forthcoming 19th Congress.
He also said that multiple-term Senator Senator Loren Legarda is set to serve as the Senate President Pro Tempore.
Zubiri said the chairmanship of the Senate foreign relations committee is reserved for Senator Imee Marcos, elder sister of President-elect Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ R. Marcos Jr.
The Senate Minority Leader post will go to Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, a former Senate president.
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will go to Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino while the Senate justice committee will go to Senator-elect Francis ‘’Chiz’’ Escudero.
Zubiri’s presidency and other Senate officials and various committee chairmen need to be voted upon when the 19th Congress opens on July 25.
The Senate and the House of Representatives adjourn sine die late on June 3.
Other committees were farmed out to Juan Edgardo ‘’Sonny’’ M. Angara, as finance chairman; Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, ways and means, and basic education committees; Nancy Binaty, committee on tourism and accounts; Raffy Tulfo, energy and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs); Robin Padilla, constitutional amendments; Christopher Go, sports and health; Ramon Revilla Jr., public works; Grace Poe, public services; Joseph Victor ‘’JV’’ Ejercito, local governments and higher education; Jose ‘’Jinggoy’’ Estrada, labor; and Cynthia A. Villar, agriculture and environment.
Selection of committee chairmanships for other senators is still underway.
Zubiri said talks with the Cayetano siblings - Alan Peter and Pia- are underway.
The post of Senate President for Zubiri appeared a foregone conclusion after Villar talked to him after she, chairwoman of the constitutional commission’s and offices of the Commission on Appointments (CA), adjourned her public hearing this morning.
Zubiri said Villar told him that she is no longer interested in the Senate presidency.
Addressing Senate reporters just before the 3 P.M. opening of the Senate regular session, Zubiri said: ‘’A united Senate is a productive one, so from the very beginning, I’ve always wanted to form a supermajority in the Senate.’’
Parts of his statement follow:
‘’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 supermajority. I also thank all my colleagues who believe in me and put their trust and confidence in my ability to lead the Senate in the 19th Congress.
‘’Rest assured that all of my experience as Majority Leader in the 14th, 17th, and 18th Congresses will help me greatly in managing the affairs of the Senate, should I be given the opportunity to serve as Senate President. And having been a legislator for as long as I have, I understand deeply the independence, integrity, and dignity of the Senate, and I will always uphold these, as well as the rules and traditions of this hallowed institution.
‘’Kung mamarapatin po akong maging Senate President, ang Senado ay patuloy na magiging Senado ng taumbayan, at isang Senado kung saan malaya ang bawat Senador na magpahayag ng kanilang sariling mga pananaw at paniniwala (Under my presidency, the Senate will continue to be the Senate of the people and a Senate where every member its free to air his opinions and ideas).
‘’And I am excited to help the incoming administration to formulate their legislative agenda. Ang bottomline lang naman po ay ayusin ang ekonomiya, paramihin ang trabaho, palakasin ang mga negosyo lalo na ang MSMEs, suportahan ang sektor ng agrikultura, at pababain ang antas ng kahirapan, lalo na sa kanayunan (The bottom line is for an economy in order, increase in the number of jobs, support and make strong business of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), support the agriculture sector and reduce the poverty level, particularly in the countryside).
‘’Isang malaking karangalan po sa akin na mabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagsilbi sa dakilang institusyong ito ng ating demokrasiya, at lalo na sa taumbayan. Mabuhay po ang Senado! (I am indeed proud to be given the opportunity to serve this great institution of our democracy, particularly our countrymen).’’