Senator-elect Robin Padilla announced that he wants to chair the Senate committee on constitutional amendments in connection with his intention to amend the Constitution.
“Aba siyempre reporma, constitutional reform number one yun. Pangalawa, sa security and defense ng Pilipinas… chairmanship kasi kung member ka lang sayang naman pagka-number one natin,” Padilla said in an interview at 24 Oras.
Padilla will temporarily stop making films to focus on his work as a legislator in the Upper House.
Aside from Padilla, returning senator JV Ejercito also wants to lead the defense committee.
Ejercito also explained that if the “equity of the incumbent” is followed, he said that Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go as chairman of the health committee.
“’Yung talks with the individual senators, that we cannot deny. Siyempre, may mga offer din po sila sa amin pero wala pa kaming desisyon kasi July 25 pa naman ‘yun opening ng session,” said Ejercito.
Ejercito said Sens Cynthia Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri are the leading contenders in the senate presidency battle.
Zubiri and Ejercito are part of the Senate’s so-called “seatmates bloc.”
Its members are also Sens Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, and returning senators Loren Legarda.
On the other hand, Zubiri confirmed that the group was pushing him to run for Senate leader.
Robin Padilla wants to lead Senate constitutional amendments
“I think we have a substantial number but not yet more than 13. But of course, if we combine the three groups together, we’ll have a supermajority,” he said.
Meanwhile, lone opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said he was open to supporting Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel if he decides to lead the minority bloc.
“If Sen. Koko is interested to lead it, I’m very open to supporting him. Basta ang number one priority ko ngayon ay ang pagbubuo ng minorya and bahagi ng pagbubuo ng minorya ‘yung division of labor namin,” said Hontiveros.
“Ang pinaka importante maging tunay kami, makapag check-and-balance at fiscalize at epektibo maging sa legislations,” she added.
Senator-back Alan Peter Cayetano has not yet decided which group to join-whether in the majority or the minority.
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