TWO powerful member of the minority bloc in the Senate has turned down the offer made by Senate President Franklin Drilon to choose from the five “standing committees” left for their group.
Former Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said that he and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile have agreed not to head any committee being offered by Drilon.
“I will not accept any committee chairmanship as well as JPE (Juan Ponce Enrile),” Sotto said in a text message.
Sotto said Enrile has called a meeting with members of the minority bloc on Monday to discuss their final decision on the offer made by Drilon.
“We’re having a meeting called by JPE on Monday evening to finalize our decision on the committees,” Sotto said.
Aside from Enrile and Sotto, other members of the minority bloc are Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Gregorio Honasan, Nancy Binay and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.
However, Sotto said that the minority bloc has agreed in principle that other four members of the minority bloc may accept the committees they wanted to head.
“Unofficially, and based on my personal opinion, Sen. Estrada is inclined to accept the labor committee; Sen. Honasan, the agrarian reform; Sen. Binay, the urban planning and housing; and Sen. Ejercito, the economic affairs,” Sotto said.
Earlier, Drilon said he had offered to the minority bloc only five remaining committees including 3 seats in the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA).
“For the 3 CA seats, mag-uusap pa kami,” Sotto said.
For the social justice committee, Sotto said it can be designate to any of the four members of the minority as secondary committee.
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