Who Will Be Next Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman between Senators Risa Hontiveros, Pia Cayetano?
RISA HONTIVEROS, PIA CAYETANO – The two lady senators are the remaining candidates for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairmanship.
Amid the Senate flood control investigation, Senator Ping Lacson who chaired the Blue Ribbon Committee resigned from the post. According to Senate President Tito Sotto, Lacson is ‘frustrated’ over the comments of some of their fellow senators on the flood probe.
Prior to Lacson, the Blue Ribbon Committee was chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. However, the Senate had a shakeup after some senators were linked to the flood control corruption.
Sen. Chiz Escudero was ousted from the Senate presidency and replaced by Sen. Tito Sotto. Most of the members of the so-called Duterte bloc are now part of the Minority bloc. Aside from the issue over the P30-million campaign donation from a contractor, Sen. Chiz Escudero is also accused of allegedly receiving a P160-million kickback from flood control projects. He denied the accusations.
Aside from Escudero, senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada are also accused of allegedly receiving flood control kickbacks. Previously, despite the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the Senate vowed to continue the probe.
With the resignation of Sen. Ping Lacson from the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee which leads the flood probe, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto revealed that there are five (5) senator candidates to be the next Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman:
- Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
- Sen. JV Ejercito
- Sen. Risa Hontiveros
- Sen. Raffy Tulfo
- Sen. Pia Cayetano
However, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan already declined to be the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee citing that he already chairs three (3) Senate committees — the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform; Justice and Human Rights; and Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.
Based on the report, Pangilinan stressed that it would not be wise to accept a fourth Senate committee, “more so the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee”. He hoped that Sen. Ping Lacson would reconsider his decision and stay as the Blue Ribbon Chairman but he respects his decision.
Aside from Pangilinan, Sen. JV Ejercito also declined the post but stressed that he is thankful for considering him. Only senators Risa Hontiveros and Pia Cayetano remain as candidates for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairmanship as Sen. Raffy Tulfo will also “humbly decline” the post if it will be offered to him as he wants to focus on his three (3) committees.
Both senators Risa Hontiveros and Pia Cayetano have yet to issue a statement. Despite the change of leadership of the committee, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto assured that both Zaldy Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez will still be invited to the Senate flood probe.