Pia Cayetano gets Blue Ribbon under brother's Senate presidency

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:00 p.m.) — Sen. Pia Cayetano has been elected chairperson of the powerful Blue Ribbon committee under a chamber now led by her brother, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. 

The appointment marks Pia's return to the panel she once led as its first female chair in 2024. 

Sen. Ping Lacson previously held the post.

The Blue Ribbon committee — formally the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations — handles the Senate's most sensitive probes into graft and abuse in government.

Senate President Cayetano had earlier said both his sister and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta were being considered for the post. He said the new majority wanted to pursue investigations in a way that was "not confrontational" but would arrive at the truth.

Several other chairmanships were also filled as part of the broader reorganization:

• Foreign Relations: Sen. Imee Marcos 
• Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes: Sen. Robin Padilla 
• Government Corporations and Public Enterprises: Sen. Camille Villar 
• Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change: Sen. Camille Villar (retained)

Earlier assignments under the new leadership include Sen. Loren Legarda at Culture and Arts and Basic Education, Sen. Bong Go at Health and Sports, and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada at National Defense and Security.

Sen. Joel Villanueva was given Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, while Sen. Rodante Marcoleta took Public Services.

Pia Cayetano also retains her chairmanships of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals.

The chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Finance — one of the most powerful posts in the chamber — went to freshman senator and real estate scion Sen. Mark Villar.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified some senators as vice chairpersons of committees. In the Senate’s announcement of committee chairships, the term “vice” referred to “in replacement of” and not “vice chair.” The story has since been edited to remove the incorrect references to vice chairmanships.