Loren, Tessie both vying for education committee.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Christine Avendano and Michael Ubac

TWO women senators-Loren Legarda and Teresa Aquino-Oreta-are said to be gunning for the chairmanship of the Senate committee on education which was left vacant with the death of Sen. Renato Cayetano last week.

And while Legarda may have the upper hand in getting the post because she belongs to the majority coalition, the possibility that it may go to Oreta is not remote. Administration senators yesterday said the majority was willing to give to the minority bloc the chairmanship of one of two committees Cayetano left vacant.

Senate President Franklin Drilon is holding a special caucus of the majority on Thursday to discuss which of the two committees-education and energy-will be offered to the minority senators.

Drilon said Legarda had expressed a desire to give up her post as majority leader for the chairmanship of the education committee. She made the request to the majority coalition four months ago, he said.

He said Legarda wanted to give up the majority leadership "because she is a re-electionist and she believes that in fairness to the position of a majority leader, it must be held by somebody who would not be bothered by a re-election campaign."