MANILA, Philippines (7th UPDATE) – The Senate, as of February 28 or barely a year since the 17th Congress began, has already undergone 2 reorganizations under Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III. 

In September 2016, Senator Leila de Lima was ousted as chairperson of the Senate committee on justice after presenting witness Edgar Matobato, who accused President Rodrigo Duterte of ordering killings when he was mayor of Davao City. She was replaced by Senator Richard Gordon.

On February 27, the chamber again reshuffled its committee chairmanships, after senators voted to remove 4 Liberal Party-allied senators from their key posts and shifted to the minority bloc.

Senator Franklin Drilon was replaced by Senator Ralph Recto as the Senate President Pro-Tempore. Drilon is now the new Senate Minority Leader replacing Recto, as he continues to head the committee on constitutional amendments tasked to hear bills on charter change.

Senator Francis Pangilinan was removed as chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture and replaced by administration Senator Cynthia Villar.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV was relieved of chairmanship of the committee on education. He still heads the committee on science and technology.

Akbayan’s Senator Risa Hontiveros was ousted as chair of the health committee but still chairs the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.

Here is the list of the committees and their chairpersons, as of February 28, 2017: 

1. Accounts – Panfilo Lacson
2. Agrarian Reform – Alan Peter Cayetano
3. Agriculture and Food – Cynthia Villar
4. Banks, Financial Institutions, and Currencies – Francis Escudero
5. Blue Ribbon – Richard “Dick” Gordon
6. Civil Service and Government Reorganization – Antonio Trillanes IV
7. Climate Change – Loren Legarda
8. Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes and Laws – Franklin Drilon
9. Cooperatives – Juan Miguel Zubiri
10. Cultural communities – Nancy Binay
11. Economic Affairs – Sherwin Gatchalian 
12. Education – Francis Escudero
13. Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation – Leila De Lima
14. Energy – Sherwin Gatchalian
15. Environment and Natural Resources – Cynthia Villar
16. Ethics and Privileges – Vicente Sotto III
17. Finance – Loren Legarda
18. Foreign Relations – Alan Peter Cayetano
19. Games and Amusement – Panfilo Lacson
20. Government Corporations and Public Enterprises – Richard Gordon
21. Health and Demography – Joseph Victor Ejercito
22. Justice and Human Rights – Richard Gordon
23. Labor, Employment & Human Resources Development – Joel Villanueva
24. Local Government – Juan Edgardo Angara
25. National Defense and Security – Gregorio Honasan 
26. Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation – Gregorio Honasan 
27. Public Information and Mass Media – Grace Poe
28. Public Services – Grace Poe
29. Public Order and Dangerous Drugs – Panfilo Lacson
30. Public Works – Manny Pacquiao
31. Rules – Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
32. Science and Technology – Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV
33. Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development – Cynthia Villar
34. Sports – Manny Pacquiao
35. Tourism – Nancy Binay
36. Trade and Commerce – Juan Miguel Zubiri
37. Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement – JV Ejercito
38. Ways and Means – Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara
39. Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality – Risa Hontiveros
40. Youth – Joel Villanueva  – Rappler.com