Senator Drilon is now the acting chairman of Senate Committee

Senator Franklin Drilon is now the acting chairman of Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

After a two-hour caucus, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III announced senators' decision to accept the resignation of Senator Ralph Recto with "much regret."

"With much regret, we take note, we placed on record the resignation of Senator Recto as chairman of the committee on ways and means," Sotto said during a plenary session.

"And in consonance with the Senate rules, we designate the vice chairman, Sen. Drilon as acting chairman of the committee," he finished.

Sotto made the confirmation following Recto's irrevocable resignation as chairman of Senate Committee on Ways and Means, which submitted a committee report on sin tax bill that has been met with harsh criticisms.

Recto, who did not attend the caucus Tuesday, said he was hurt by criticisms from fellow senators, executive department officials, and health advocates for his 'watered down' version of the measure. 

“The (Recto) committee report can stand. It can be the basis for the debates. In the period of amendments, the amendments can be introduced,” Drilon said.
 
“In fact, if you look at the report, I indicated in my signature that I will amend because my agreement with Senator Recto is that even if I did not agree with his conclusion and his rates," he explained.

Last week, Recto recommended a measure that will raise P15 billion to P20 billion in revenues by imposing new excise taxes in tobacco and alcohol products on the first year of implementation alone.
 
His version is far from the version of the House of Representatives, which approved a bill that expected to raise P31.35 billion in tax revenues in the first year of implementation.