Sen. Mark Villar has been named the new chairman of the Senate committee on finance, succeeding Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who stepped down after leading reforms aimed at increasing transparency in the national budget process.
Villar assumes the powerful post amid allegations raised by a former public works official linking him to alleged kickbacks during his tenure as Department of Public Works and Highways secretary, though he has yet to issue a statement.
Gatchalian said the finance committee is a position of “trust” and reflected on his efforts to open up the bicameral conference process, long criticized as opaque, by pushing for greater oversight.
The Senate also underwent a broader leadership realignment that reshuffled several committee chairmanships, with minority senators losing key posts in education, health, and public service panels.
Despite the shakeup, allies of the current leadership retained major committees, while the influential Blue Ribbon Committee remains without a permanent chair.
Source: PhilNews24 | May 20, 2026
