Senator Mark Villar moves to Senate Majority, gains CA and Public Works chairmanship

Senator Mark Villar has officially joined the Senate majority bloc and secured the chairmanship of the Committee on Public Works and a seat on the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri confirmed Villar’s transition during plenary session following the approval of two motions reassigning leadership positions previously held by Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

“Mr. President, pursuant to Section 18, Article 6 of the 1987 Constitution, I move that Senator Mark Villar be elected as a member of the Commission on Appointments, vice Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. That’s myself—I’m giving way to Senator Villar, Mr. President,” Zubiri stated on the floor.

“On the part of the majority, pursuant to Rule 10, Section 13 of the Rules of the Senate, I move to elect Senator Mark Villar as chairperson of the Committee on Public Works, vice Senator Vicente Sotto III,” Zubiri added.

The Senate approved both motions without opposition. In a subsequent message via Viber, Zubiri reiterated that Villar’s committee and CA designations were formal steps solidifying his membership in the majority.

“Yes, we just elected him to the CA and Public Works committee as part of the majority,” Zubiri said.

Villar’s move expands the majority bloc to 14 members. Joining him are Sotto, Zubiri, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, and Senators Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Francis Escudero, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, and Joel Villanueva.

Meanwhile, his sister, Senator Camille Villar, remains with the 10-member minority bloc led by Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

Rounding out the minority are Senators Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, and Robin Padilla. -Paraluman News