Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday reminded the Senate body that there are stakeholders awaiting the enactment of a number of bills currently being reviewed by committees amid the abrupt reshuffle in the legislative body’s leadership.

“This representation knows that the Senate President is keenly aware kung gaano katagal at katindi ang hinihintay nitong mga bills ng mga stakeholders at partners ng Senado, kabilang ang mga children’s rights advocates, mga pasyenteng Pilipino at kanilang mga pamilya, barangay health workers, at political reform advocates, among others,” she said before the Senate.

The statement was made in response to concerns raised by senators like Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan about the continuation of committee hearings in spite of the change in leadership.

In response, newly-installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said that committee chairmen appointed prior to the Senate reorganization will be automatically counted as members of their committee.

“Hindi suspension of the rules but it's a tradition that is consistent (with) the rules, because when you’re a chairman, you are automatically still a member of that (committee),” he said.

Moreover, he agreed with former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who said that unless a successor to a committee chair has been named, the previous chairperson—despite the position having been declared vacant—will continue to carry out their duties such as holding inquiries.

On Monday, former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was ousted and succeeded by Cayetano, and former Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson replaced by Senator Loren Legarda.