The Senate approved a sweeping overhaul of its standing committees on Wednesday, June 17, during the first special session of the 20th Congress, solidifying the leadership of newly elected Senate President Win Gatchalian.
The major leadership shakeup follows weeks of intense legislative maneuvering that concluded with Gatchalian taking the helm from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who formally resigned from the Senate’s top post.
The decisive session moved forward after securing a quorum with 13 senators in attendance, notably including Senator Joel Villanueva, who was previously aligned with Cayetano’s faction.
As part of the key assignments, Senator Erwin Tulfo was appointed to chair the influential Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, widely recognized as the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Supporting him as vice chairpersons are Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, the latter of whom previously led the panel.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri confirmed that the entire majority bloc will compose the membership of the Blue Ribbon Committee, with the sole exception of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
The chamber also finalized and approved the following committee chairmanships:
- Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan: Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform; Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes; Justice and Human Rights
- Senator Bam Aquino: Basic Education; Science and Technology; Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship
- Senator Risa Hontiveros: Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality; Health and Demography; Economic Affairs
- Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III: Ethics and Privileges; National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation; Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation
- Senator Erwin Tulfo: Energy; Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development; Environment (alongside the Blue Ribbon Committee)
- Senator Raffy Tulfo: Migrant Workers; Public Works
- Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri: Rules; Foreign Relations
- Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito: Finance; Local Government
- Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson: Ways and Means; Public Order and Dangerous Drugs
- Senator Lito Lapid: Games and Amusement
- Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero: Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement
- Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joel Villanueva: Higher, Technical and Vocational Education; Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development
This extensive committee reshuffle represents the first major legislative directive executed under Senate President Gatchalian, establishing a new framework that will steer the chamber’s legislative agenda and investigative priorities moving forward.