17/05/2026
- Committe on EDUCATION Chairman is now Sen. ROBIN PADILLA!
- Committee on AGRICULTURE is now chaired by Sen. CAMILLE VILLAR!
MABUHAY ANG EDUKASYON SA PILIPINAS!
MABUHAY ANG MGA MAGSASAKA! 😂😂😂
Senate Shake-Up: Pangilinan, Hontiveros, Aquino Lose Key Committee Posts
A major Senate leadership reshuffle has stripped Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Bam Aquino of chairmanships of three major Senate committees following the installation of Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president.
Pangilinan was removed as chair of the Senate agriculture committee, Hontiveros lost the health committee, and Aquino was stripped of the basic education panel amid a broad reorganization of Senate committee assignments under the new leadership.
The Senate agriculture committee was reassigned to Sen. Camille Villar, while the health committee was returned to Sen. B**g Go, a longtime ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte. The basic education committee was handed to Sen. Robin Padilla.
The reshuffle followed a dramatic Senate leadership transition that saw Cayetano secure enough votes to replace then-Senate President Tito Sotto. Reports said 13 senators backed Cayetano’s takeover of the chamber leadership.
Committee chairmanships in the Senate are considered among the chamber’s most influential posts because they determine which senators lead hearings, investigations and deliberations on proposed legislation.
Pangilinan had chaired the agriculture committee while pushing measures related to food security and support for farmers and fishermen. Hontiveros previously led the health committee during deliberations on public health and healthcare reform proposals. Aquino headed the education committee and advocated measures tied to education access and youth development.
The reassignment of the three committees is seen as part of a wider consolidation of power by the Senate majority bloc following the leadership change.
Senate committee chairmanships for the 20th Congress were reorganized shortly after the election of the new Senate leadership, with administration-aligned senators and Duterte allies securing several strategic posts in the chamber.
[Corrigendum as of May 18: Senator Loren Legarda inherits the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Basic Education from Senator Bam Aquino; Senator B**g Go reclaims the leadership of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography from Senator Risa Hontiveros; while the chairperson for Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform is yet to be determined]
