File photo

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – The Senate on Monday, February 27, stripped 3 Liberal Party senators and their ally of committee chairmanships, following the arrest of their party mate Senator Leila de Lima.

The revamp prompted the LP senators to shift to the minority bloc.

It was neophyte senator Manny Pacquiao, a key administration ally, who motioned to remove from key positions LP senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, as well as Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros. Akbayan is allied with the LP.

Drilon was removed as Senate President Pro-Tempore, Pangilinan was relieved as agriculture committee chairman, and Aquino was sacked as education committee chairman. Akbayan's Hontiveros was also removed as health committee head.

As Senate President Pro-Tempore, Drilon was the 2nd highest Senate official and an ex-officio member of all standing committees in the chamber and in the powerful Commission on Appointments.

The revamp came after De Lima's arrest last Friday, February 24, and the 31st anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution last Saturday, February 25, which was attended by the ousted senators all clad in black.

No senator objected to Pacquiao's motions, with the 4 senators even seconding them.

Drilon said De Lima would also join the minority but Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said it's best to wait for the official confirmation from the lady senator.

NEW PRO-TEMPORE: Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III congratulates newly-elected Senate President Pro Tempore and former Minority Leader Ralph Recto after the latter took his oath on Monday, February 27, 2017. Photo by PRIB

Replacing Drilon as Senate President Pro-Tempore is Senator Ralph Recto, who used to be the Senate Minority Leader. Drilon, however, remains to be the chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments.

Senator Francis Escudero also left the minority bloc as he replaced Aquino as the new education committee chairperson. Aquino is still the head of the committee on Science and Technology.

President Rodrigo Duterte's close allies, Senator Cynthia Villar and Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, are the new agriculture and health committee chairpersons, respectively. Villar replaced Pangilinan while Ejercito replaced Hontiveros.

Asked how he felt about the changes, Drilon only said: "Nothing. We are not kapit-tuko. It’s a number’s game. They have the numbers."

He recalled that the LP coalition gave 6 votes to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III when he ran for the top post in July 2016.

LP, Pimentel: Allies no more

Pimentel, a party mate of Duterte, defended the LP ouster.

He said work in the chamber has been "hampered by the blurring of the lines" betwen the majority and minority blocs "to the detriment of public interest."

"There have been instances where the majority, instead of closing ranks, ended up divided. The majority of senators decided that to best achieve the Senate's legislative agenda, clear lines have to be drawn," Pimentel said in a statement.

"The Senate will remain independent and true to its role as the last bastion of democracy in our country," he added.

LP senators have opposed numerous policies of the administration, such as the hero's burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the reimposition of the death penalty, the plans to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, and the spate of extrajudicial killings, among others.

"After arrest ni Senator De Lima, kami naman sa LP coalition. Ito'y kasama sa plano dahil hindi komportable ang administration sa aming pagiging kritiko sa ilang mga bagay. Parang gusto ata ng administration right or wrong, 'di tayo papayag sa gano'n," said Pangilinan, LP president.

(After Senator De Lima's arrest, they are going after us in the LP coalition. This is part of their plan because the administration is not comfortable with our criticism. They want us to be all for the administration, right or wrong. We will not allow that.)

Aquino, for his part, said: "I think klaro naman iyon na kapag mamartsa ka sa EDSA at sasabihin mo na kailangang panatilihin ang demokrasya at kalayaan sa ating bayan ay sasampolan ka talaga. Iyon iyong nangyari sa amin."

(I think it is clear that if you will march in EDSA and call for democracy and freedom, you will experience that. That is what happened to us.)

The first sign of a breakup within the so-called "supermajority" coalition in the Senate came about in September last year, when De Lima was ousted as chairperson of the justice committee after she presented a witness accusing the President of ordering killings in Davao City.

In December, Vice President Leni Robredo, an LP stalwart, was eased out of the Duterte Cabinet and was forced to quit as housing secretary.

Robredo's resignation prompted calls at the time for the LP to bolt the majority coalition, but the LP senators hedged and eventually decided to stay. – Rappler.com</s>3 Liberal Party members and an ally are stripped of their committee chairmanships in the Senate

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, February 27, lashed out against the Duterte administration for being "obsessed with monopolizing power and intent on marginalizing those who have opposing views."

This was after senators belonging to or affiliated with the Liberal Party (LP) were stripped of their committee chairmanships. (READ: Liberal Party senators see Palace hand in ouster)

On Monday afternoon, senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros were removed from key posts in the Senate following a motion by key administration ally, neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao.

The 4 were once part of the PDP-Laban-led majority bloc. They have since moved to the minority bloc. Akbayan is an ally of the once-ruling LP.

"When we were given the mandate by the people, we were determined to work with this administration to put national interest before politics. But despite our sincere efforts, it is now clear that the Duterte administration is incapable of tolerating dissent, no matter how constructive," said Robredo in a statement released to the media.

"What happened in the Senate today is characteristic of an administration obsessed with monopolizing power and intent on marginalizing those who have opposing views," added Robredo, who was once a member of the Duterte Cabinet.

She resigned as housing chief last December after she was told to stop attending all Cabinet meetings.

The Vice President, a staunch critic of authoritarian rule and of Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship, noted that the Philippines has seen moves to monopolize power in the past.

"This has happened before. In the past, this paved the way for a one-man rule. We will not be silenced. Our nation deserves no less," said Robredo, who defeated Marcos' only son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, for the vice presidency during the 2016 elections.

As the LP's highest elected official, Robredo is also the party's chairperson.

"Democracy demands dissent," added Robredo. (READ: Robredo to Duterte: 'Mr President, we call you to task')

The shift among the Senate blocs came days after Senator Leila de Lima, an LP member and among President Rodrigo Duterte's staunchest critics, was arrested for alleged ties to illegal drugs on February 24.

On February 25, all 4 senators attended the 31st anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution. They were all clad in black.

On the same day, Duterte supporters staged a rally in support of the President at the Luneta.

Last week, the Senate was also divided over a vote to reopen a probe into the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), a vigilante group that was supposedly founded and utilized by Duterte when he was Davao City mayor.

The LP bloc voted to allow Arturo "Arthur" Lascañas, a self-confessed DDS hitman, to testify before the Senate.

When we were given the mandate by the people, we were determined to work with this administration to put national interest before politics.

But despite our sincere efforts, it is now clear that the Duterte administration is incapable of tolerating dissent, no matter how constructive.

What happened in the Senate today is characteristic of an administration obsessed with monopolizing power and intent on marginalizing those who have opposing views.

This has happened before. In the past, this paved the way for a one-man rule.

We will not be silenced. Our nation deserves no less.</s>Badly fragmented after the May national elections last year, the Liberal Party (LP) is “consolidating” anew in response to recent political developments, some of which its members think are reason enough to abandon Congress’ so-called supermajority.

“Definitely we are consolidating from the last elections. With the political situation, with the events happening… definitely lead us to strengthening our ranks,” LP secretary general, Quezon City Rep. Christopher “Kit” Belmonte, said at a press conference following a party caucus on Tuesday.

But the Liberals at the House of Representatives have deferred leaving the supermajority with the plenary voting on the death penalty bill expected to take place on Wednesday.

The three-hour caucus was attended by former President Benigno Aquino III, party chairman Vice President Leni Robredo, president Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and several senators and congressmen.

From being the powerful ruling party during Aquino’s term, the Liberals were decimated soon after President Duterte took over.

The LP joined the supermajority in Congress led by Mr. Duterte’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP)-Laban.

At the House of Representatives, only four LP members remained with the independent majority bloc.

But with the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima, a harsh critic of President Duterte, the revelation of Davao Death Squad whistleblower Arturo Lascañas, and the sudden ouster of the LP senators from their committee chairmanships, among others, the LP finds itself having to make some firm decisions.

Party leaders, including Aquino and Robredo, have been repeatedly asked whether or not the Liberal Party is poised to become the opposition party given the current political climate.

Pangilinan said there was nothing wrong with being the opposition.

“If you are against some of the policies [of the administration] does that mean you already want to bring down the government? No,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan emphasized that rumors that the LP was behind a plot to destabilize the Duterte presidency were foolish.

“There is no perfect government… It is our role as elected officials to point out if there are shortcomings [in the administration]. We are in a democracy,” Pangilinan said.

He added that the Liberal Party would disagree with some programs as much as support those that its members deem as beneficial to the people.

“It does not mean that because we criticize, we no longer have the right to speak, and they file charges and detain [us],” Pangilinan said, referring to de Lima.</s>Manila: Senator Leila De Lima was detained in a jail at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Metro Manila’s suburban Quezon City after her arrest from the Senate for three drug-related cases.

The legislator is being accused of protecting convicted international and local drug lords from 2010 to 2016, when she was justice secretary, to raise millions of pesos for her senatorial bid with the Liberal Party in the May 2016 polls.

“A motion to quash the case against de Lima and question jurisdiction of a lower court in suburban Muntinlupa on her case, were filed, resolutions of which would take days,” said her lawyer Bonifacio Tacardon, adding they will raise the same issue in the Supreme Court.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre alleged the government had “thwarted plans” of pro-De Lima factions to offer P100 million (Dh8.3 million) to eight convicted international and local drug lords to officially recant their testimonies against De Lima — on February 25 — before the 31st anniversary of the people-backed military mutiny that ousted former president Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.”

“The retraction of testimonies would be used by people supporting De Lima to join another people-power to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. If the revolution wins, all high profile inmates who recanted their testimonies will be released from prison: that was promised to them,” said Aguirre in a TV interview. Their earlier testimonies at the senate nailed de Lima’s alleged involvement in illegal narcotics trade.

After emerging from the Senate where she was arrested at eight Friday morning, De Lima said, “I have the honour to be imprisoned for something I’m fighting for [questioning alleged human rights violation of President Duterte]. I am innocent. There is no truth to the lies I am charged with — that I benefited from illegal drug trade. The truth will come out at the right time.”

Senator Francis Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party that was once led by former President Aquino, said, “The LP is not involved in any bribe-giving of witnesses. This is ridiculous.”

“Sen. De Lima has accepted her current situation. She has realised that this is a process that she has to go through. She’s OK, she’s holding up and well, she’s a very courageous woman and very strong-willed. We’re here to lend our moral support for her,” said Pangilinan.

Government’s chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo also said, “She is now given the opportunity to refute any and all allegations and/or evidence to be presented by the prosecution against her.”

But former whistle blower Sandra Cam called De Lima a coward and held a protest rally in front of the Senate when De Lima went there to hide and evade arrest late Thursday.

While in hiding at the Senate, De Lima confessed, “I feel less safe if arrested in the evening. I will stay here in the Senate and wait for the sun to rise.” Arresting officers arrived at the office of the Senate Sargeant- at-Arms at 11 Thursday evening,

At the time, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno agreed that De Lima should be arrested at eight Friday morning.

De Lima was the highest official ever indicted for alleged involvement in illegal drug trade, Duterte said, adding that lawmakers, local government officials, and top ranking policemen are protecting international and local drug lords.

De Lima has led local and international rights groups in criticising Duterte’s campaign against illegal drug trade which has killed more than 7,700 since July. Because of irregularities, Duterte barred the police from the campaign. The police admitted responsibility for 2,500 deaths, and blamed drug syndicates for the rest of the fatalities.

Illegal drug trade has reached $4.8 billion a year in the Philippines in 2013, authorities said.</s>“The retraction of testimonies would be used by people supporting De Lima to join another people-power to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. If the revolution wins, all high profile inmates who recanted their testimonies will be released from prison: that was promised to them,” said Aguirre in a TV interview. Their earlier testimonies at the senate nailed de Lima’s alleged involvement in illegal narcotics trade.

After emerging from the Senate where she was arrested at eight Friday morning, De Lima said, “I have the honour to be imprisoned for something I’m fighting for [questioning alleged human rights violation of President Duterte]. I am innocent. There is no truth to the lies I am charged with — that I benefited from illegal drug trade. The truth will come out at the right time.” Senator Francis Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party that was once led by former President Aquino, said, “The LP is not involved in any bribe-giving of witnesses. This is ridiculous.” “Sen. De Lima has accepted her current situation. She has realised that this is a process that she has to go through. She’s OK, she’s holding up and well, she’s a very courageous woman and very strong-willed. We’re here to lend our moral support for her,” said Pangilinan. Government’s chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo also said, “She is now given the opportunity to refute any and all allegations and/or evidence to be presented by the prosecution against her.” But former whistle blower Sandra Cam called De Lima a coward and held a protest rally in front of the Senate when De Lima went there to hide and evade arrest late Thursday. While in hiding at the Senate, De Lima confessed, “I feel less safe if arrested in the evening. I will stay here in the Senate and wait for the sun to rise.” Arresting officers arrived at the office of the Senate Sargeant- at-Arms at 11 Thursday evening, At the time, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno agreed that De Lima should be arrested at eight Friday morning. De Lima was the highest official ever indicted for alleged involvement in illegal drug trade, Duterte said, adding that lawmakers, local government officials, and top ranking policemen are protecting international and local drug lords. De Lima has led local and international rights groups in criticising Duterte’s campaign against illegal drug trade which has killed more than 7,700 since July. Because of irregularities, Duterte barred the police from the campaign. The police admitted responsibility for 2,500 deaths, and blamed drug syndicates for the rest of the fatalities. Illegal drug trade has reached $4.8 billion a year in the Philippines in 2013, authorities said.</s>MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party (LP) senators see Malacañang's hand in their ouster from key Senate posts, which prompted them to join the minority bloc.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, LP president, said he was no longer surprised with what happened after the arrest and detention of party mate Senator Leila de Lima.

On Monday, February 27, the Senate stripped LP senators Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, as well as Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros, of key posts.

The Duterte administration, Pangilinan said, is not used to being criticized. The LP has opposed several policies and actions of President Rodrigo Duterte, including the hero's burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the planned revival of the death penalty, and the proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, among others.

The LP senators also pushed for the investigation into the spate of extrajudicial killings and the reopening of the probe into the Davao Death Squad.

For Aquino, their ouster was a clear message to politicians that Duterte should not be criticized. (READ: Robredo: Duterte admin 'obsessed with monopolizing power')

"Palagay ko. I think klaro naman 'yun... As I said earlier, kung ang kapalit ng pag-commemorate ng EDSA celebration, kung ang kapalit ng pagtutol sa patayan na nangyayari sa ating bansa ay matatanggalan ka ng kumite, eh di, I'd gladly pay that price," he said.

The revamp happened days after De Lima was detained in Camp Crame and after the 4 senators joined the 31st anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

When the LP coalition in the Senate earlier decided to join the majority and support Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, one of their conditions was that the chamber's independence should be preserved.

But with their ouster, Aquino said it now seems the majority no longer wants independence from the executive branch.

"Initially, we joined the majority because we wanted an independent Senate. Iyon iyong pinaka-hiling namin kay Senate President Pimentel. Pero ngayon na iyong mga tumututol sa iilang mga polisiya – hindi nga lahat ng mga polisiya – sa iba pa lang ay tinatanggalan na ng chairmanship, sa tingin ko iba na talaga ang gusto nila mangyari," he said.

Hontiveros, for her part, said: "From the start, I joined the majority under the premise that this will push for a strong and independent Senate. Sadly, this is no longer the case."

Pangilinan said what happened to them would have an effect on the Senate's independence, as those who would want to question the administration's policies would be afraid of doing so.

"The Senate has always been the bastion of independence, check and balance of the executive department, so 'yun ang concern natin. Nawala na ba ang pagiging independiente at magiging sunud-sunuran na lang ba sa ehekutibo?" Pangilinan said.

But Pimentel downplayed these claims, saying the Senate "will remain independent and true to its role" as the last bastion of democracy. – Rappler.com</s>Opposition Senator Leila de Lima is escorted by Senate security to address the media after a warrant for her arrest was issued by a regional trial court Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. The Philippine court has issued an arrest warrant on drug charges for the senator and former top human rights official who is one of the most vocal critics of President Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs. De Lima has vehemently denied the charges, which she says are part of Duterte's attempt to intimidate critics of his crackdown, which has left more than 7,000 drug suspects dead.

Manila: A Philippine court on Thursday issued an arrest order for combative Senator Leila de Lima, in connection with allegations that she received drug money from an influential prison syndicate.

Judge Juanita Guerero, of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204, ordered the arrest of De Lima, who on Thursday afternoon remained holed up in her locked office at the Senate building in Pasay City.

Aside from the De Lima, also ordered arrested were Rafael Ragos and Ronnie Dayan who are respectively a close aide and personal driver of the senator.

“After a careful evaluation of the herein information and all the evidence presented during the preliminary investigation conducted in this case by the Department of Justice, Manila, the court finds sufficient probable cause for the issuance of warrants of arrest against Leila M. de Lima, Rafael Marcos Z. Ragos and Ronnie Palisoc Dayan,” the court order states.

De Lima and her aides are being accused of violating the law against drugs, particularly Section 5 of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

This particular law deems as illegal the “sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of illegal drugs,” and prescribes a punishment of imprisonment from a minimum of 12 years to life imprisonment and payment of fine from 500,000 pesos to 10 million pesos (Dh36,502 to Dh730,043).

The arrest order was issued after the Department of Justice last week charged De Lima, who was justice secretary until last year, with accepting money from high-profile drug syndicates in exchange for allowing the jailed felons to conduct their business even while in prison.

De Lima is known to be close to former President Benigno Aquino III and is an active member of his political organisation, the Liberal Party (LP).

Meanwhile, incumbent Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre alleged that a former senator and an incumbent member of the House of Representatives, who is with the LP, had tried to bribe high profile inmates who have direct knowledge on De Lima’s acceptance of protection money during the time she was justice secretary.

Aguirre said the information held by national penitentiary New Bilibid Prisons inmates Vicenty Sy, JoJo Baligad Herbert Colanggo, Engelberto Aceñas Dureno, and Wu Tuan Yuan or Peter Co could pin down De Lima on allegations that she was providing protection to the six high profile inmates who were allegedly involved in running a drug distribution ring under the noses of jail authorities.

“We have information that the first offer to the inmates was made on Wednesday afternoon. It was made by a former senator and an incumbent Congressman of the Liberal Party in the Province of Laguna. The inmates were told that they have to recant before February 25, 2017,” according to Aguirre.</s>On her first night in detention in Camp Crame, Senator Leila de Lima was visited by PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to assure her of her safety inside the police headquarters.

Fresh from his trip to Kalinga to visit relatives of policemen killed in an operation, Dela Rosa dropped by De Lima’s cell at the PNP Custodial Center on Friday night.

“She welcomed me and I talked to her. I told her, if security is your problem, you’re very secure here. You have nothing to worry about. You’re very safe here,” Dela Rosa told a press conference in Camp Crame Monday morning.

Dela Rosa said the senator, with whom he once had a clash during a Senate inquiry on rampant drug killings, was “very relaxed.”

“Tinanong ko pa nga kung OK lang sa kanya ‘yung bagong pintura na wall kasi may asthma siya. Sabi niya, “Kayang-kaya naman. Walang problema,” he said.

It was not clear if De Lima and Dela Rosa discussed why the police tried to arrest her on Thursday night despite her a public statement that she would surrender on Friday morning.

De Lima slammed Dela Rosa’s order to serve the warrant on the day the court issued it despite the agreement between Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueño to allow De Lima to spend the night at the Senate.

De Lima said she did not want to be arrested at night for security concerns.

She was brought to the detention facility on Friday afternoon following her arrest at the Senate over illegal drug charges.

Friends of De Lima expressed concern over her security while she was put under police custody, citing the October killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo by rogue cops inside Crame.

De Lima’s fellow Liberal Party member Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan questioned the capability of the PNP to secure detainees when it allowed Jee’s killing to happen inside the heavily-guarded camp.

But Dela Rosa said it’s normal for them to worry about the senator’s safety.

“But as far as the PNP is concerned, we make sure na safe na safe si Senator De Lima sa aming custodial center,” he said.

Aside from Dela Rosa, Vice President Leni Robredo also visited her partymate at the PNP Custodial Center, according to PNP’s Headquarters Support Service director Chief Supt. Philip Phillipps.

Phillipps said Robredo visited at about 7 p.m. Friday. It lasted for less than an hour. CBB/rga</s>The ouster of Liberal Party (LP) senators as committee heads shows the Duterte administration’s obsession with monopolizing power and marginalizing those who criticize him, Vice President Leni Robredo, also an LP member, said on Monday.

“What happened in the Senate today (Monday) is characteristic of an administration obsessed with monopolizing power and intent on marginalizing those who have opposing views,” Robredo said in a statement.

All Robredo’s partymates in the Senate were stripped of their committee chairmanships after Senator Manny Pacquiao, a Duterte ally, moved to remove them from their positions.

“When we were given the mandate by the people, we were determined to work with this administration to put national interest before politics,” Robredo said.

“But despite our sincere efforts, it is now clear that the Duterte administration is incapable of tolerating dissent, no matter how constructive.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon has been replaced by Senator Ralph Recto.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, LP president, was removed as chair of the Senate committee on agriculture, while another LP member, Senator Benigno Paolo “Bam” Aquino, was replaced by Senator Francis Escudero as chair of the Senate committee on education.

Senator Risa Hontiveros was also ousted as chair of the Senate committee on health and was replaced by Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.

All four senators will now become part of the minority group along with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Robredo likened the recent move of the Duterte administration as that of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, who put the country under a dictatorial rule for decades.

“This has happened before. In the past, this paved the way for a one-man rule,” she said.

“We will not be silenced. Our nation deserves no less. Democracy demands dissent,” Robredo added.</s>It took only 15 minutes on Monday for the Senate leadership to form a new majority—by kicking out President Duterte’s critics from the bloc.

Senators in the majority said their Liberal Party (LP) colleagues had it coming, as they had voted against the majority on controversial issues, to the detriment of public interest.

They underscored the need to clear the blurred line between the majority and the minority.

The LP senators said they were not surprised, as they had heard talk of a reorganization before Mr. Duterte’s allies struck on Monday.

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon, the LP vice chair, lost his position as the No. 2 man in the chamber.

Along with Senators Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino and Risa Hontiveros, Drilon and his group became the new minority bloc, which was left with only one member—Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV—after Senators Ralph Recto and Francis Escudero joined the majority.

The new minority is expected to be joined by Sen. Leila de Lima, who is jailed at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City, while awaiting trial on drug charges.

Recto was elected to replace Drilon as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Vice President Leni Robredo, the leader of the opposition to Mr. Duterte, slammed the expulsion of the LP senators from the Senate majority as a silencing of dissent that had happened before, referring to martial law during the time of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and warned that the reorganization in the Senate could be a portent of things to come.

Robredo said democracy demanded dissent, and that critics of the administration would “not be silenced.”

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Mr. Duterte’s right-hand man in the Senate, defended the expulsion of the LP senators, saying the majority “decided that to best achieve the legislative agenda, clear lines have to be drawn.”

But, he said in a statement, the Senate would “remain independent and true to its role as the last bastion of democracy in our country.”

Drilon said the realignment happened because it was a “numbers game.”

“They have the numbers,” he said, reminding Pimentel that the LP supported him in the race for Senate President.

Asked whether the changes had to do with the coming investigation of the confession of a hit man who linked Mr. Duterte to killings in Davao when he was the mayor of the city, Drilon said: “They are the ones who kicked us out, so you ask them.”

The formation of a new Senate majority came after most of the senators, including the LP lawmakers, voted to hear the testimony of retired police officer Arturo Lascañas, who disclosed last week that he killed people on orders from Mr. Duterte.

It was Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao, an ally of Mr. Duterte, who started the move to rid the majority of the LP senators.

Shortly after the session started on Monday afternoon, Pacquiao stood up and moved to declare Drilon’s position vacant.

Drilon himself stood up to say he seconded the motion of Pacquiao, who in turn moved for Recto made new Senate President Pro Tempore.

With a vote of 17-6, Recto was elected as the new Senate President Pro Tempore and he immediately took his oath before Pimentel.

The 17 who voted for Recto were Pimentel, Escudero, Pacquiao, Pangilinan and Senators Nancy Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Win Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Grace Poe, Vicente Sotto, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The senators who voted against Recto were Recto himself, Drilon, Aquino, Hontiveros and Sen. Sonny Angara.

After that, Pacquiao took the floor again to make successive motions—to declare vacant the chairmanships and memberships of the committeees on health (held by Hontiveros), agriculture (Pangilinan) and education (Aquino).

Pacquiao moved for the appointment of Ejercito as health committee chair and this was seconded by Hontiveros; for Villar to be named agriculture committee chair, which Pangilinan seconded, and for Escudero to be made education chair. —WITH A REPORT FROM NIKKO DIZON
The Liberal Party of the Philippines, the party of vice president Leni Robredo and detained senator Leila de Lima, formally becomes the opposition after its members and its ally from the Akbayan party are ousted from key positions in the Senate.