Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday emphasized that the Senate leadership change and quorum on June 3, consisting of 12 senators, are legal and valid, following the process undertaken.
During an interview on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan, Gatchalian said the composition of senators present during the leadership transition on June 3 supports the legitimacy of the move.
“Ang basic facts ay meron kami 12 senador at ang kabila ay meron 10 senador. At by that alone ay mas marami yung ating bilang,” he said, referring to the majority bloc that installed the new leadership.
He added that the process was not unprecedented, citing past legal interpretations and Supreme Court (SC) rulings, including the case of Avelino v. Cuenco, as a basis for the validity of quorum and Senate proceedings even with 12 senators present.
“Itong isinagawa natin ay hindi bago ito. Meron na ngang Supreme Court ruling, 'yung Avellino case.
“Ang daming beses nga na binilang yung 2015 at iba pang mga taon, na kahit 12 ang senator may quorum. At ipinakita nga ni Sen. Erwin Tulfo na hindi lang isang beses na nangyari ito, maraming beses na nagkaroon ng quorum dahil sa labing dalawang senator. So hindi bago ito,” he added.
Gatchalian also pointed out that legal practitioners, including the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), have recognized the “validity“ of the process.
“Nabasa ko rin yung pahayag ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines na ito ang grupo ng lahat mga abogado sabi nila na valid itong isinagawang proseso noong Wednesday,” he noted.
“Kaya lahat nito ay isang direksyon. Ang direksyon nito ay yung prosesong ginawa ay legal, valid at itong bagong pamunuan ay mayroong mandato,” he added.
The acting Senate President also stressed the importance of recognition from the House of Representatives and the Executive Branch to ensure smooth coordination among branches of government.
“Ang ating mga partners, tawag ko nga partners, tulad ng House of Representatives at ang Executive Branch, ay binibigyan ng recognition itong bagong pamunuan,” Gatchalian said.
“Importante itong mga ibang sangay ng gobyerno dahil nakikipag-coordinate, meron kaming working relationship sa pagitan ng House, sa pagitan ng Executive Branch. Kung hindi ka bibigyan ng recognition, hindi ka papansinin. So importante itong mga recognition na ito para yung mga batas na ginagawa namin at eventually binibigay natin sa executive branch ay pormal na binibigyan nila ng recognition,” he added.
Gatchalian was also asked about efforts to persuade other senators to join the majority bloc, to which he responded that he continues to reach out to all colleagues.
“Ako naman, nililigawan ko lahat ng senador dahil pare-pareho naman yung aming mithiin na gusto natin ay magtrabaho, gusto natin bumalik na sa focus ang Senado sa paggagawa at pagbabalangkas ng mga batas na makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
He also said the Senate should return its focus to pressing national issues such as inflation.
“Hindi pa tapos yung problema natin sa gera. Nalilihis kami dahil kung matatandaan natin nung nagkaroon tayo ng protect hearing, natututukan yung problema natin pagdating sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin o inflation,” Gatchalian said.
He lamented: “At maraming mga solusyon na naimplementa, marami rin hindi naimplementa. Kaya gusto natin bumalik ngayon, ilihis ulit ang focus doon sa pinakamahalagang bagay para sa ating taong bayan. At yan ay ang pinakamabigat ngayon ay yung inflation o pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.”
The three-day deadlock in the chamber was eventually broken following the appearance of Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, allowing the minority bloc led by former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to reclaim key posts and reorganize the chamber, with Gatchalian subsequently elected as Senate President Pro Tempore.
