Leadership changes in Congress

Two weeks apart, the 20th Congress went through a complete revamp, starting from the top leadership in both chambers.

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

The drastic leadership changes came after the traditional joint opening session of the Senate and the House of Representatives last July 28. It was on this day when President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) finally showed his fangs, so to speak.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) halfway through his administration, a visibly emotional President let out his utter dismay, if not extreme anger rarely seen in public. PBBM fumed over the congressional initiatives, insertions, errata, SOP, etc. that got through the previous Congress-approved 2025 budget.

“Mahiya naman kayo,” PBBM ranted but it was met roundly with applause from his audience, who included the leaders and members of the present Congress. Only a few of the 20th Congress did not deserve the presidential tongue-lashing because they were not part of the 19th Congress that passed what is called the “badlymangled” 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Definitely, however, many of them among the present set of lawmakers were the same ones who comprised the 19th Congress because they got reelected for another term in office.

Under our 1987 Constitution, a congressman / woman, including a nationally elected party-list representative, enjoys a three-year term of office, with a maximum of nine years in office or three consecutive terms. On the other hand, a senator has six years in office, with a maximum of 12 years or two consecutive terms

These included the likes of now erstwhile Senate president Francis “Chiz” Escudero and ex-House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. Barely three months from the SONA, both Escudero and Romualdez were forced out of their respective offices, albeit differently showed out the door.