IN WHAT looks more like a brilliant stroke of politics, the House of Representatives underwent a major clean-up that saw congressmen with links to Vice President Sara Duterte stripped of leadership and committee assignments.
To begin with, the majority bloc removed committee chairmanship to 26 congressmen who either voted against, abstained from, or skipped the impeachment vote against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan was removed as deputy speaker. She has since been replaced by Negros Occidental 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez.
The House majority also installed Batangas Rep. Beverly Rose Dimacuha, Misamis Occidental Rep. Jason Almonte, Camarines Sur Rep. Nelson Legacion, and Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Timothy Joseph Cayton as new assistant majority leaders, replacing Taguig Reps. George Daniel Bocobo and Ricardo Cruz, Batangas Rep. King Collantes, and Ilocos Sur 1st District Rep. Ronald Singson.
Ronald Singson was also removed as vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.
Interestingly, Kristine and Ronald’s dad is former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson, who happens to be among the most vocal critics of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Collantes was given the chairmanship of the House Committee on Revision of Laws, replacing Rizal Rep. Emigdio Tanjuatco III, who was absent when the House voted on the Duterte impeachment.
The House likewise approved several committee leadership changes.
Leyte Rep. Carl Nicolas Veloso-Tuazon was named chairperson of the Committee on Climate Change, replacing Batangas Rep. Aniela Bianca Tolentino. Tolentino, in turn, took over the Committee on Ecology from Bohol Rep. Maria Vanessa Aumentado, who voted against Duterte’s impeachment.
Aklan Rep. Jesus Marquez was named chairperson of the Committee on Science and Technology, replacing Negros Occidental Rep. Jules Ledesma who was tapped to head the Committee on Economic Affairs, replacing Antique Rep. Antonio Legarda Jr.
Bukidnon Rep. Jose Manuel Alba, who skipped the impeachment vote, was removed as chairperson of the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals and replaced by rookie Antipolo Rep. Philip Conrad Acop.
Bohol Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor, who voted against the impeachment complaint, was also relieved as chairperson of the Special Committee on Globalization and the World Trade Organization, with Mandaluyong Rep. Quenie Gonzales taking over the post.
Agusan del Sur Rep. Alfelito Bascug, another lawmaker who did not participate in the impeachment vote, was removed as chairperson of the Special Committee on Persons with Disabilities. Tawi-Tawi Rep. Dimszar Sali was elected to replace him.
Rizal Rep. Arturo Garcia Jr., who likewise skipped the impeachment vote, also lost his post as chairperson of the Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects. He was replaced by Valenzuela Rep. Kenneth Gatchalian.
