A post for one senator will remain vacant for the rest of the regular sessions of the Seventeeth (17th) Congress, with the appointment of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Senator Chiz Escudero says, this situation will not last for a long time, since the next senatorial election is forthcoming in just about two years.
Escudero further explains, the senatorial candidate who placed 13th in the May elections last year cannot be added to the current roster.
“Hindi maaaring ipasa sa ika-labing tatlong senador noong nakaraang eleksyon ang posisyon ni Cayetano dahil naideklara na itong hindi nanalo sa halalan,” Escudero notes.
One option is for the Senate to seek special elections.
Escudero, however, sees no need to hold this political exercise since it will entail a huge government expense.
The lawmaker also adds, senators may just talk among themselves on who should replace Cayetano in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, once the new DFA Secretary’s nomination is approved by the Commission on Appointments.
Escudero was guest in the weekly Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday.