Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan was elected as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, replacing Senator Robin Padilla.
During the Senate’s plenary session on Tuesday, August 12, Pangilinan formally accepted the chairmanship position for the said committee.
Pangilininan expressed his gratitude to his colleagues for their trust, as he assumed chairmanship over one of the chamber’s most critical committees.
"I accept this responsibility with humility and a firm resolve to safeguard the democratic ideals enshrined in our Constitution," Pangilinan stated. "We will uphold democratic principles and guarantee a consultative and transparent process in any proposed changes to our Constitution."
"The Constitution belongs to the people, and any move to change it must be anchored on their aspirations and welfare. It must also undergo a thorough, principled, and participatory process," Pangilinan added.
The senator vowed to conduct a series of public consultations, which include input from constitutional experts, civil society representatives, business groups, local government units (LGUs), and ordinary citizens. Through these consultations, Pangilinan aims to learn about the possible amendments to the political and economic provisions of the Constitution.
Pangilinan—who also chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform—had experience leading the said committee in his past three terms. With this, the senator emphasized that he would draw from his experience as a lawyer and legislator for over 20 years.
The senator will replace Padilla, who in turn would serve as the committee’s vice chairperson, alongside Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Deputy Majority Leaders Rodante Marcoleta and JV Ejercito.
