Senate elects new committee chairpersons, members

The Senate on Wednesday elected new chairpersons, vice chairpersons, and members for some permanent committees, following another change in leadership in the chamber.

During the special session, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved for the election of the chairpersons for the following panels:

Zubiri noted that the chairpersons of some of the committees were already elected during the session on June 3.

The following senators were likewise elected as members of the powerful Commission on Appointments: Lacson, Zubiri, Villanueva, Hontiveros, Sotto, Raffy Tulfo, and Ejercito.

Meanwhile, Aquino, Pangilinan, Lapid, and Escudero were named members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

During the special session, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was formally elected as the new Senate president, settling the two-week leadership row with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Sotto was also elected as the Senate President Pro Tempore, while Zubiri retained his post as the Majority Leader.

Ejercito was also designated as the Senior Deputy Majority Leader, while Villanueva was named the Deputy Majority Leader. — RSJ, GMA News