Senator Loren Legarda on Saturday maintained that the leadership changes in the Senate on June 3, which resulted in the election of new chamber officials, “violated the Constitution and the chamber’s rules.“
In a video statement posted on Facebook, Legarda argued that the appointment of a new Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate Secretary, and Sergeant-at-Arms by the group led by Senator Win Gatchalian lacked legal basis because only 12 senators were present and voted during the plenary session.
“Sa kabila ng aking paggalang sa aking mga kasamahan, labag sa Konstitusyon at alituntunin ng Senado ang nangyaring pagtatalaga ng Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate Secretary at Sergeant-at-Arms dahil labindalawang senador lamang ang nasa plenaryo na bumoto,” Legarda said.
She cited Article VI, Section 16(1) of the 1987 Constitution, which states that “the Senate shall elect its President by a majority vote of all its members.“
According to Legarda, with the Senate composed of 24 elected members, at least 13 votes are required to constitute a majority.
“Sa mga kapwa ko Pilipino, malinaw na nakasaad sa konstitusyon. Walang sinumang senador ang maaaring lehitimong tumayo bilang Pangulo ng Senado batay lamang sa labindalawang boto,” she said.
Legarda also pointed to Rule II, Section 2 of the Senate Rules, which provides that Senate officers shall be “elected by a majority vote of all its members.“
She rejected attempts to justify the reorganization through the Supreme Court (SC) ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco, saying the decision could not be used as a “shortcut” to legitimize the actions taken by the Gatchalian bloc.
“1949 pa ang kasong ito [Avelino v. Cuenco] at naganap sa ilalim ng 1945 Constitution. Nagbago na ang ating Saligang Batas. [Ang] 1987 Constitution na ang sumasaklaw sa atin. Dito, malinaw na 13 ang kinakailangang boto para maghalal ng pangulo ng Senado at parehong bilang din ang kinakailangan para sa pagboto ng mga opisyal,” Legarda said.
Last Wednesday, 12 senators attending the plenary session elected Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President as part of a leadership reorganization in the chamber.
Legarda, however, insisted that she remains the legitimate Senate President Pro Tempore.
“Ang Konstitusyon ang gabay ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang dapat nating ipaglaban para sa Senado, para sa ating mga institusyon, at higit sa lahat, para sa bawat Pilipino. Si Loren Legarda po, ang inyong Senate President Pro Tempore,” she said.
The senator warned that allowing leadership changes based on reduced attendance could turn Senate contests into a battle over which faction can diminish the physical presence of the opposing side.
She stressed that representation, the interests of the majority, performance, and pressing national issues should determine who leads the Senate rather than political maneuvering.
“Dapat manatiling representasyon, interes ng nakararami, performance ng bawat isa at isyu ng panahon ang batayan kung sino ang magiging mayorya at pinuno ng Senado,“ she said.
“Ang konstitusyon, ang gabay ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang dapat nating ipaglaban para sa Senado, para sa ating mga institusyon, at higit sa lahat, para sa bawat Pilipino,” Legarda lamented.
