SEN. Mark Villar joined the Senate majority bloc on Thursday and was elected to the Commission on Appointments (CA), replacing Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Villar was also elected chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works, a post previously held by Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III, Zubiri said.
Zubiri confirmed that he gave up his seat in the CA to make way for Villar, describing the move as his gesture to welcome the senator back to the majority.
On the Public Works committee, Zubiri said Sotto had suggested that Villar take over the chairmanship because of Sotto’s other responsibilities, including chairing the committees on National Defense and Ethics, and serving as Senate president pro tempore.
Sotto said Villar’s addition would help ease the workload of the majority, which is handling the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, budget deliberations and regular legislative duties.
“We’re glad because we’re all loaded with work. We have the impeachment, legislative [duties] and budget [deliberations], so it would be better if we have more members,” Sotto said.
Sotto said he learned of Villar’s transfer only on Thursday and that Zubiri coordinated the senator’s move to the majority.
Villar had previously chaired the Public Works committee before moving to the minority.
Zubiri said there had been no negotiations over Villar’s return to the majority.
He said Villar himself reached out to the majority and expressed a desire to join the bloc so he could become more productive in the Senate.
Zubiri also said Villar’s previous vote in favor of the majority’s position was a “conscience vote” and was separate from his decision to return to the majority.
He maintained that joining the majority would not necessarily determine how Villar or other senators would vote in the impeachment proceedings.
More senators may follow
Asked whether other senators from the minority could follow Villar, Zubiri said all minority members were welcome to join the majority.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo also welcomed Villar’s transfer and hinted that another senator or senators from the minority could follow.
“From the minority to the majority, it looks like there may be [someone who will transfer]. I don’t know. I’m not going to tell you because it might preempt the announcement, but I think there probably is,” Tulfo said.
“Time will tell,” he added, Villar, a former Public Works secretary, is vice chairman of the Committee on Finance and serves on several committees dealing with infrastructure and government spending.
His return to the majority gives him a key role in the Senate’s oversight of public works and infrastructure spending, including proposed allocations for flood control and other projects.
The CA, composed of members from both chambers of Congress, exercises constitutional authority over the confirmation of presidential appointments.
With Villar’s transfer, the Senate majority has 14 members, while the minority has 10. His sister, Sen. Camille Villar, remains with the minority bloc.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, replaced Sen. Loren Legarda as a member of the CA.
In a statement, Cayetano said political alliances may change but the minority bloc’s principles and commitment to the Filipino people would remain unchanged.
He said the minority would continue to serve as a constructive opposition while defending the rights of Filipinos in accordance with the Constitution and other laws.
Cayetano acknowledged that political considerations can lead lawmakers to realign.
“We understand all too well the circumstances and considerations that lead to changes in political alliances,” Cayetano said. “But regardless of how the political landscape shifts, our duty remains unchanged. We will continue to stand for what is right, uphold our institutions and work for the good of our nation.” Villar’s move to the majority comes as members of his family face separate legal proceedings.
In September, the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and administrative complaints against Villar, Camille Villar, their parents Manny and Cynthia Villar, brother Paolo Villar and others over allegedly disadvantageous joint venture agreements involving PrimeWater and local water districts. The complaints are undergoing preliminary investigation.
The Villars are also facing a separate Securities and Exchange Commission complaint before the Department of Justice involving Villar Land Holdings Corp. over allegations of market manipulation, insider trading and misleading disclosures.
Mark and Camille Villar have filed counter-affidavits seeking dismissal of the case and have denied wrongdoing.
