WITH a quorum of 12 senators, the Senate finally held a session on Wednesday, electing Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian as its leader in the absence of Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who led a two-day boycott that left the chamber “on the brink of a constitutional violation.”
Senator Francis Joseph G. Escudero, who was absent since Monday, broke the 11-11 impasse after deciding to attend the last day of the 20th Congress’ second regular session, allowing lawmakers to declare all seats vacant.
“The Senate had been adjourned and unable to resume session for the past two days placing us on the brink of constitutional violation, had we not convened today,” Mr. Gatchalian told the plenary after he was elected Senate president pro tempore.
“Thus, in the absence of a duly consulted postponement and the continued absence of the former Senate president, president pro tempore, and members of the majority, we are compelled to call session to order.”
Majority bloc senators opted out of the scheduled sessions since Monday, following Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada, Jr.’s voluntary surrender to the police, in connection with plunder charges against him linked to the flood control scam.
Mr. Gatchalian asserted the move’s legality, citing the 1949 Supreme Court ruling on Avelino v. Cuenco case, which considers 12 out of 23 members a quorum. He cited another precedent, referring to a May 5, 2015 session, which declared a quorum based on 17 available senators with seven others beyond the Senate’s coercive jurisdiction.
Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri clarified during the session that Mr. Gatchalian will serve as acting Senate president in his capacity as Senate president pro tempore. The chamber needs at least 13 votes to elect a new Senate chief.
In another Facebook livestream, Mr. Cayetano expressed his opposition to the changes in leadership, calling the move an “illegal coup d’état.”
“This is an illegal coup d’état accompanied by the trashing of our Constitution,” he said. “I am still the legitimate, legal, moral Senate president of the Republic of the Philippines.”
In separate statements, however, Malacañang and the House of Representatives both recognized and welcomed Mr. Gatchalian’s leadership.
“What transpired in the Senate this afternoon is in accordance with the law and the rule of law,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told reporters in Filipino. “The Palace recognizes and respects the decision of the new majority and the leadership of Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.”
Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, meanwhile, assured the new Senate leader that House prosecutors are ready for the impeachment trial of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio in July.
GET BACK TO WORK
This followed President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s call, urging the Senate to get back to work as he questioned the chamber for halting legislative work amid issues surrounding the Cayetano-led majority lawmakers.
He said the government must provide stability to Filipinos amid the uncertainties brought by the Iran war but the Senate’s situation is “anathema to everything governance is about.”
He said the Legislature is now “in disarray,” following events that unfolded since last month, which included a leadership change, a shootout, the arrest of a lawmaker and the chamber’s failure to hold a session for two days.
“We are trying to achieve some form of stability so that people can get on with their lives, so that people can plan ahead for their future, so that people can count on the assistance of the government during this time of an emergency,” he told reporters after an event in Manila City.
“We cannot do that if the Legislature decides to stay at home and have a vacation.”
Mr. Marcos, a former lawmaker, said he had never imagined such events would unfold in the “august body of the Upper House.”
“How can we provide that assistance without the proper legislation to back it up?” he said.
He noted that rules dictate that lawmakers must inform the other chamber three days before canceling a session.
“There has to be a very good reason for canceling a session,” he said. “I don’t think you’re going to drive a senator to where he’s going. I don’t think that’s a good enough reason to cancel a session.”
ECONOMIC COSTS
Business groups warned the country risks losing investor momentum, as they urged senators to immediately resume regular sessions.
Management Association of the Philippines President Donald Patrick L. Lim said that there has been growing frustration and impatience within the business community over the delays in Senate proceedings.
“At a time when the country is grappling with slower economic growth, inflationary pressures, global uncertainty, and increasing competition from our ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbors, many business leaders are questioning why political conflicts continue to consume valuable time and attention,” he said in a Viber message.
The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) also urged senators to resume its regular proceedings and complete the organization of all standing committees necessary to conduct legislative activity.
It said that the Senate’s constitutional duties on lawmaking, oversight, and deliberation on matters of national importance—cannot be fulfilled if proceedings are stalled.
“The costs of delay are real: government programs await enabling legislation, businesses postpone investment, communities remain underserved, and families continue to bear rising costs while needed reforms are trapped in procedural deadlock,” FINEX said.
Mr. Gatchalian, former Finance committee chairman, said the Senate spends P25 million per day on utilities and staff salary, noting that the cancellation of the chamber’s session wastes taxpayer’s money.
“Every day that the Senate is unable to perform its duties is another day that millions of Filipinos continue waiting for the action, leadership, and solutions they elected their government to provide,” FINEX said.
“The nation cannot move forward if one of its most important democratic institutions remains at a standstill.” — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel, Chloe Mari A. Hufana, and Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
