MANILA — The Senate’s internal power realignment following the recent leadership coup triggered a major reshuffle of committee chairmanships, with several influential posts reassigned while crucial positions — including the Senate Majority Leader and the powerful Committee on Agriculture — remain unfilled amid continuing uncertainty in the chamber.
The Senate on Tuesday released the new lineup of chairpersons for its permanent committees after the reorganization that saw shifts in the chamber’s power structure, signaling both consolidation and redistribution of influence among senators allied with the new leadership.
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda retained the Committee on Culture and Arts and was also designated chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education.
Former Basic Education chair Sen. Bam Aquino was named vice chairperson of the panel.
Sen. Pia Cayetano maintained control of several high-profile committees, including Ways and Means, Energy, and the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking.
Sen. Bong Go retained his post as chairperson of the Committee on Sports and was additionally assigned to lead the Committee on Health and Demography.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros was designated vice chairperson of the health panel.
Sen. Robinhood Padilla remained chairperson of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media while also taking over the Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs.
Sen. Joel Villanueva was appointed chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, with Legarda serving as vice chairperson.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada will head the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, with Legarda also serving as vice chairperson.
Estrada was likewise designated chairperson of the Committee on Games and Amusement, with Sen. Erwin Tulfo as vice chair.
Meanwhile, Sen. Dante Marcoleta was named chairperson of the Committee on Public Services, with Sen. Raffy Tulfo serving as vice chairperson.
Despite the reshuffle, several critical leadership posts remain vacant, including the Committee on Agriculture and the position of Senate Majority Leader, underscoring lingering political maneuvering inside the chamber following the reorganization.
Senate officials said the remaining leadership positions are expected to be finalized and announced in the coming days./PN
