New Commission on Appointments (CA) members, and committee chairpersons have been elected during the plenary session in the Senate of the Philippines on Wednesday, September 10.

Chosen to sit in the bicameral body are as follows:

• Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson

• Deputy Majority Leaders Risa Hontiveros and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito

• Deputy Minority Leaders Joel Villanueva and Rodante Marcoleta

• Senators Loren Legarda, Raffy Tulfo, Mark Villar, Lito Lapid, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Imee Marcos, and Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada.

The CA plays a critical role in confirming or rejecting presidential appointees to key government positions such as Cabinet officials, ambassadors, and top military officers.

In addition, the Senate elected Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as chairperson of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Pangilinan will also serve as the chamber’s representative to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which oversees the selection of judicial nominees.

Sen. Camille Villar was appointed chair of the Committee on Economic Affairs, while Sen. Lito Lapid was named chair of the Committee on Cooperatives.

These changes follow a major leadership shake-up earlier this week when on September 8, Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was reinstated as Senate President, replacing Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. He was reportedly backed by a majority bloc of at least 15 senators.

Sotto pledged to lead a Senate that is “cooperative but independent, balanced, transparent, and sincere.”