The Senate on Tuesday evening elected Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Robin Padilla, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and Camille Villar to the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET).
Lacson will serve as the minority’s representative in the nine-member tribunal.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the SET is mandated to resolve all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of senators as the sole judge in disputes questioning the legitimacy of Senate election results. It is composed of three justices of the Supreme Court and six senators chosen on the basis of proportional representation from political parties.
Alongside the tribunal appointments, the Senate also finalized its lineup for the Commission on Appointments (CA).
The CA plays a constitutional role in approving or rejecting appointments made by the President of the Philippines.
The body is composed of the Senate President as ex-officio chair, 12 senators, and 12 members of the House of Representatives. Its members are also chosen on the basis of proportional representation from political parties and party-list organizations.
The Senate majority earlier nominated 10 lawmakers to the CA, leaving only two seats for the minority bloc.
Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III objected to this, arguing for an additional minority seat to shift the composition to nine majority members and three minority members.
Amid the dispute, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano withdrew his nomination as a majority member, allowing room for compromise.
Sens. Loren Legarda, Risa Hontiveros, and Juan Miguel Zubiri were later confirmed as minority representatives.
