SPECIAL GUEST. Senator Christopher "Bong" Go (left) answers questions from the media after leading the groundbreaking ceremony of the four-story building of Valenzuela Medical Center in Barangay Karuhatan, Valenzuela City on Friday (May 20, 2022). Go said he is open to retaining chairmanship of the Committee on Health. (PNA photo by Joey Razon)
MANILA – The decision of the majority weighs heavier than tradition in the Senate.
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said Friday all decisions will depend on how the majority will vote, reacting to opposition Senator Franklin Drilon's remarks that newbie lawmakers are usually not assigned with major committees based on tradition.
"Democracy naman 'to. Kung sino po ‘yung napili ng majority, ‘yun po ‘yung pipiliin. ‘Yan ang tinatawag na majority rules," he said during an interview after attending the groundbreaking ceremony of a four-story building of Valenzuela Medical Center in Barangay Karuhatan.
Go noted the selection of committee chairmanship is similar to passing a bill.
He assured that he is always ready to accept whatever committee he will be assigned to lead in the 19th Congress and welcomed retaining the Committee on Health.
"Kung ibibigay po sa akin ng majority, maraming, maraming salamat po. Kung bibigyan pa ako ng isa, salamat po. Kung bibigyan po ako ng apat, huwag naman sana kasi masyado ng marami (If the majority will give me [the Committee on Health and Demography], thank you very much. If I get another one, thank you. If they will give me four, please don’t. It will be too much)," he said.
Drilon, who is set to end his term next month, told reporters on Friday that seniority matters more when selecting major committee chairmanships, rather than being just a “topnotcher” in the elections.
“The tradition in the Senate is that seniority is given weight and recognition. Of course, everything is a matter of compromise but certainly being a topnotcher is a factor in your favor, but as far as I recall, seniority is a determining factor or is a weighty consideration or a heavier consideration rather than your rank in the election,” Drilon said.
Actor Robin Padilla garnered 26,612,434 votes, the most among 63 candidates.
He has expressed interest in leading the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, currently chaired by losing vice presidential bet Senator Francis Pangilinan, to restart the process of overhauling the 1987 Constitution. (PNA)
