Two senators behind bars over plunder and graft cases secured committee leadership roles on Wednesday, July 29, underscoring the chamber’s position that detention does not strip elected members of their legislative functions.
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, held on plunder charges, was installed as chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism. His fellow detainee, Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, took the gavel of the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation.
Estrada’s new assignment opened up only after Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III stepped away from the electoral reforms panel to lead the Committee on Public Works. Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri put Estrada’s name forward, and the chamber signed off on the nomination.
Defending the arrangement in an interview, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian pointed to Estrada’s continuing standing in the chamber. “Senator pa rin siya and member siya ng minority. So lahat ng member ng minority mabibigyan ng committee (He is still a senator and a member of the minority. So every member of the minority will be given a committee) but my vice chairman naman who runs the committee,” he said.
Estrada is being held at the New Quezon City Male Dormitory Jail in Payatas, Quezon City. His path to any relief narrowed after the Sandiganbayan turned down his bid for bail on the non-bailable plunder and graft counts he faces.
A string of other assignments filled out the day’s committee slate. Sen. Mark Villar drew the Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies, while his sister, Sen. Camille Villar, was given the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises. Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go was tapped to lead the Committee on Sports and Youth, and Sen. Imee Marcos was chosen to head the Committee on Cooperatives.
Sen. Loren Legarda picked up a pair of panels, the Committee on Culture and the Arts and the Committee on Civil Service, and Sen. Robin Padilla likewise took two, the committees on Cultural Communities and Public Information. Sen. Pia Cayetano rounded out the group with the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals.
Zubiri, during the proceedings, pressed his colleagues to complete both the majority and minority slots on every panel, warning that committee-level work would stall otherwise. The Sandiganbayan’s Second Division has separately ordered Estrada suspended pendente lite, requiring him to vacate his Senate seat and any public office for 90 days while his case runs its course.
