Philstar.com points to legislative delays caused by Senate shakeup

CHEERS TO Philstar.com for reporting how sudden changes in Senate leadership disrupted schedules for legislative activities and delayed discussions on important bills and proposals. 

The “leadership coup” on May 11 installed Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate President, replacing Senator Vicente Sotto III.

On May 13, Cristina Chi reported that senators voted on the same day of the coup to vacate all Senate leadership seats and committee chairmanships. 

Chi added that many of the senators who supported Cayetano’s takeover were known allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte. She noted that the Senate shakeup “coincided with renewed tensions surrounding the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into Duterte’s drug war” and ahead of the expected impeachment trial of the vice president. 

Chi’s account served as a deliberate call for the Senate and the public to focus on the urgent tasks at hand. 

Stalled discussions

The changes in leadership resulted in the postponement of scheduled hearings—some of them on key proposals—with no new dates announced. 

Chi reported that Senator Francis Pangilinan, who chaired the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food until May 11, had to apologize to farmers from Benguet who were invited to speak on May 12 on the challenges they face, particularly in light of the ongoing fuel crisis.

Chi also noted that recent developments caused Senator Risa Hontiveros to lose the chairmanship of committees on women, health and electoral reforms. Hontiveros was particularly concerned about the effect on the status of bills for discussion, including the Party-list Reform Bill and the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill. Chi said Cayetano’s response was that authors and committee members—including former committee heads—retain their right to sponsor bills. But Cayetano said the incoming majority leader would decide when to take up pending measures.

Interpreting Senate rules

Chi reported the “lengthy debate” between Pangilinan and Cayetano over Senate rules governing committee leadership. Her account included Senator Panfilo Lacson’s suggestion to formally designate Pangilinan in holdover capacity as Senate President “so he can be officially capacitated,” which Cayetano accepted. Cayetano then referred for formal ruling the matter of committee leadership to the Committee on Rules.

The report included the different interpretation of rules among senators themselves. Chi was silent about how the diversity of these views could affect public confidence in the way senators fulfill their functions and address legislative concerns with urgency.

Chi’s account of what went on in the Senate was simple and straightforward — a cool reminder of the purpose of the august body and the business that may have been set aside by the fracas that shook up the Senate halls on May 11. 

Her list of pending bills showed up the cost of distraction – the kind that diminishes the sense of rules that all politicians must uphold.