The 15th Congress of the Philippines (
Filipino
Filipino may refer to:
* Something from or related to the Philippines
** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines.
** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...
: ''Ikalabinlimang Kongreso ng Pilipinas''), composed of the
Philippine Senate
The Senate of the Philippines (Filipino language, Filipino: ''Senado ng Pilipinas'', also ''Mataas na Kapulungan ng Pilipinas'' or "upper chamber") is the upper house of Congress of the Philippines, Congress of the bicameral legislature of the ...
and
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
, met from July 26, 2010, until June 6, 2013, during the first three years of
Benigno Aquino III's presidency
The presidency of Benigno Aquino III began on June 30, 2010, when he became the 15th president of the Philippines, succeeding Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. His term ended on June 30, 2016. Aquino, the third-youngest person elected president, is th ...
. The convening of the 15th
Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of a ...
followed the
2010 general elections, which replaced half of the Senate membership and the entire membership of the House of Representatives.
Leadership
Senate
![Jinggoy Estrada](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Jinggoy_Estrada.jpg)
* President of the Senate
::
Juan Ponce Enrile
Juan Valentin Furagganan Ponce Enrile Sr., (born Juanito Furagganan; February 14, 1924), also referred to by his initials JPE, or Manong Johnny, is a Filipino politician and lawyer known for his role in the administration of Philippine dicta ...
(
PMP), ''elected July 26, 2010, resigned June 5, 2013''
::
Jinggoy Estrada
Jose Pimentel Ejercito Jr. (; born February 17, 1963), also known as Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada or simply Jinggoy Estrada, is a Filipino politician, film actor, and producer serving as a Senator since 2022, and previously from 2004 to 2016. He ...
(
PMP), ''assumed position June 5, 2013 as Acting President of the Senate''
* Senate President Pro-Tempore
::
Jinggoy Estrada
Jose Pimentel Ejercito Jr. (; born February 17, 1963), also known as Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada or simply Jinggoy Estrada, is a Filipino politician, film actor, and producer serving as a Senator since 2022, and previously from 2004 to 2016. He ...
(
PMP), ''elected July 26, 2010''
* Majority Floor Leader
::
Tito Sotto
Vicente Castelo Sotto III (; born August 24, 1948), professionally known as Tito Sotto, is a Filipino politician, entertainer and athlete who served as Senate President from 2018 to 2022. Before that, had two stints each as Senate Majority Lea ...
(
NPC),
* Minority Floor Leader
::
Alan Peter Cayetano
Alan Peter Schramm Cayetano (Tagalog pronunciation: ajɛˈtano born October 28, 1970) is a Filipino politician, lawyer, and diplomat serving as a Senator since 2022 and previously from 2007 to 2017. He was the Senate Minority Leader from 20 ...
(
Nacionalista),
House of Representatives
![Representative Sonny Belmonte](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Representative_Sonny_Belmonte.jpg)
* Speaker of the House of Representatives
::
Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.
Fernando Feliciano "Sonny" Racimo Belmonte Jr., KGCR (born October 2, 1936) is a Filipino politician who served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the Fourth District of Quezon City from 1992 to 2001 and from 2010 to 2019 ...
(
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
,
4th District of Quezon City), ''elected July 26, 2010''
* Deputy Speakers
::
Lorenzo Tañada III
Lorenzo may refer to:
People
* Lorenzo (name)
Places Peru
* San Lorenzo Island (Peru), sometimes referred to as the island of Lorenzo
United States
* Lorenzo, Illinois
* Lorenzo, Texas
* San Lorenzo, California, formerly Lorenzo
* Lorenzo State ...
(
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
,
4th District of Quezon)
::
Raul Daza
Raul A. Daza (born May 2, 1935) is a Filipino lawyer, certified public accountant, and politician, who served in the House of Representatives of the Philippines for 20 years as Representative of the 1st District of Northern Samar (1987–1998; 201 ...
(
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
,
1st District of Northern Samar)
::
Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, (
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
,
1st District of Zamboanga City)
::
Pablo P. Garcia
Pablo Paras Garcia (September 25, 1925 – August 18, 2021) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who have been the patriarch of the Garcia political clan of Province of Cebu. He was a longtime congressman and governor.
Early career
A topno ...
(
One Cebu
One Cebu (1-CEBU) is a provincial political party based in the province of Cebu. It is headed by Gwendolyn Garcia, governor of Cebu.
History
The party was formed in response to the ''Sugbuak'', or the failed Cebu-split movement, in time for th ...
/
NUP,
3rd District of Cebu)
::
Arnulfo Fuentebella (
NPC,
3rd District of Camarines Sur)
::
Jesus Crispin Remulla
Jesus Crispin "Boying" Catibayan Remulla (born March 31, 1961) is a Filipino lawyer, politician, and broadcaster currently serving as Secretary of Justice since 2022. He previously served as the representative of Cavite's 7th district from 2 ...
(
Nacionalista,
7th District of Cavite)
* Majority Floor Leader
::
Neptali Gonzales II
Neptali "Boyet" Medina Gonzales II (born August 29, 1954) is a Filipino politician serving as the Representative of Mandaluyong's Lone District since 2019, and previously in the 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th Congress. He was also o ...
(
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
,
Lone District of Mandaluyong)
* Minority Floor Leader
::
Edcel Lagman
Edcel Castelar Lagman Sr. (, born May 1, 1942) is a Filipino human rights lawyer and politician from the province of Albay. He was elected as a member of the House in 1987 up to the present. He served as Minority Floor Leader of the House of Re ...
(
Independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
(
Lakas–CMD
Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats, abbreviated as Lakas–CMD and also known simply as Lakas, is a political party in the Philippines. Lakas–CMD is considered to sit on the centre-right of the political spectrum, and is influenced by Christi ...
until January 19, 2012),
1st District of Albay), until January 20, 2012
::
Danilo Suarez
Danilo "Danny" Etorma Suarez (born December 20, 1942) is a Filipino politician and former Governor of Quezon. He served as Minority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives of the Philippines representing the 3rd District of Quezon.
He ...
(
Lakas–CMD
Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats, abbreviated as Lakas–CMD and also known simply as Lakas, is a political party in the Philippines. Lakas–CMD is considered to sit on the centre-right of the political spectrum, and is influenced by Christi ...
,
3rd District of Quezon), since January 20, 2012
Sessions
* First regular session: July 26, 2010 – June 6, 2011
* Second regular session: July 25, 2011 – June 6, 2012
* Third regular session: July 23, 2012 – June 5, 2013
Party summary
Senate
House of Representatives
Members
Party standing
Senate
*for purposes of quorum and voting, the vacant seat is included.
House of Representatives
Memberships in committees and other bodies
* Note: Doesn't include oversight committees created for specific laws.
Commission on Appointments
The Senate President sits as the chair of the
Commission on Appointments
The Commission on Appointments ( fil, Komisyon sa Paghirang, abbreviated as CA) is a constitutional body which confirms or rejects certain political appointments made by the President of the Philippines. The current commission was created by th ...
, who can only vote to break ties; the head of the contingent of the House of Representatives serves as the vice chairman and can vote not just only to break ties.
Judicial and Bar Council
The chairs of the respective houses' committees of justice shall serve as ''ex officio'' members of the
Judicial and Bar Council
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC; fil, Sangguniang Panghukuman at Pang-abogasya) of the Philippines is a constitutionally-created body that recommends appointees for vacancies that may arise in the composition of the Supreme Court, other lowe ...
. The
Chief Justice is the ''ex officio'' chairman, while the president appoints the members, with confirmation from the Commission on Appointments.
Electoral tribunals
The Senate Electoral Tribunal is composed of six senators and three justices of the
Supreme Court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
; the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal on the other hand is composed of six representatives and three justices of the Supreme Court.
Senate committees
The Senate President, Senate President ''pro tempore'' and the Floor Leaders are ''ex officio'' members of all committees; the majority floor leader is automatically the chair of the Committee on Rules.
House of Representatives committees
The Speaker, Deputy Speakers and the Floor Leaders are ''ex officio'' members of all committees; the majority floor leader is automatically the chair of the Committee on Rules.
Legislative activities
Legislative calendar
* First Regular Session:
** Commencement: July 26, 2010
** Adjournment: October 16, 2010
** Resumption: November 8, 2010
** Adjournment: December 18, 2010
** Resumption: January 17, 2011
** Adjournment: March 26, 2011
** Resumption: May 9, 2011
** Adjournment: June 9, 2011
* Second Regular Session
** Commencement: July 25, 2011
* Third Regular Session
First Regular Session
Convening
Unlike at the beginning of the
14th Congress, the election of the presiding officers for both houses proceeded without incident as
Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
representative
Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.
Fernando Feliciano "Sonny" Racimo Belmonte Jr., KGCR (born October 2, 1936) is a Filipino politician who served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the Fourth District of Quezon City from 1992 to 2001 and from 2010 to 2019 ...
of the Liberal Party was elected as
Speaker of the House of Representatives while
Juan Ponce Enrile
Juan Valentin Furagganan Ponce Enrile Sr., (born Juanito Furagganan; February 14, 1924), also referred to by his initials JPE, or Manong Johnny, is a Filipino politician and lawyer known for his role in the administration of Philippine dicta ...
of PMP was re-elected
Senate President
President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the speaker in some other assemblies.
The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for ex ...
.
Alan Peter Cayetano
Alan Peter Schramm Cayetano (Tagalog pronunciation: ajɛˈtano born October 28, 1970) is a Filipino politician, lawyer, and diplomat serving as a Senator since 2022 and previously from 2007 to 2017. He was the Senate Minority Leader from 20 ...
of the Nacionalistas and