Senator Imee Marcos to be replaced as head of foreign relations panel, Senator Lacson says

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirmed on Thursday that Senator Imee Marcos will be replaced as head of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

The Senate majority bloc will appoint her successor next week, with Senator Erwin Tulfo being considered.

Marcos has not yet responded to a request for comment on the issue as of posting time.

“For obvious reasons, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, like the Blue Ribbon, etc. is a major and significant committee that is normally reserved to the majority bloc,” Lacson said.

He added that Marcos has been informed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and that the change will be discussed in plenary next week.

Lacson clarified he had no role in the decision, which was made during the majority bloc’s caucus last Monday.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the move was not related to Marcos’ decision not to sign a resolution condemning recent acts of the Chinese Embassy.

“No, I don't think so. When the majority met, the thinking is that a major committee like foreign relations should be chaired by a member of the majority,” Sotto said.

He added that Marcos had originally been allowed to retain the post in anticipation she might align with the majority bloc, but pending treaties and agreements prompted the reassignment.

“Originally tamang-tama, nung una kami nag-uusap-usap pa lang noong September, even August before September nag-uusap-usap kami si Sen Erwin Tulfo was already very interested in that," he explained.

"Di lang namin muna ginalaw kay Senator Imee Marcos thinking she might opt to jive with the majority as far as issue of foreign relations is concerned. So ganoon ang naging thinking. So we asked Senator Zubiri to inform Senator Imee about it," he added.

Asked whether the committee reassignment was due to differences over the China issue resolution signed by 15 senators, Sotto said, “I can only speak for myself. I cannot speak for the other members if they thought of that when we discussed it last Monday in the majority caucus. I can only speak for myself. Sa akin hindi. It has nothing to do with that.”

Meanwhile, Lacson said Senator Kiko Pangilinan is willing to give up the chairmanship of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes in favor of Marcos, leaving it to her to decide whether to accept the post.

“As a gesture of goodwill, Senator Kiko agreed to relinquish the chairmanship of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes and Laws,” Lacson said.

“It is up to her to accept or decline,” he added.

-Paraluman News