Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said the ongoing leadership dispute in the Senate is a reflection of the leadership and direction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration.
Speaking in General Santos City, Duterte said the turmoil in the Senate mirrors what she described as a broader lack of vision in the country's leadership.
“‘Yung kaguluhan sa Senado ay nagsasalamin ng leadership ng administrasyon. Yung kaguluhan at kawalang direksyon ng ating bansa ay nagsasalamin kung ano yung klase ng leadership meron ang nakaupo sa Palasyo at ng ating administrasyon, dahil lahat naman ng tao nagre-recognize sila kung ano ‘yung direksyon ng isang leader,” Duterte said.
“Pero kapag wala ‘yung direksyon ng isang leader, wala yung vision, ay nagkakanya-kanya talaga ang mga tao. ‘Yan yung nakikita natin sa, hindi lang sa Senado but sa buong bansa,” she said.
The remarks come amid tensions between two Senate factions. One group is led by Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, who heads the current majority and has been recognized by both the House of Representatives and Malacañang as the Senate's leader. The other faction is led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who continues to assert his claim to the Senate presidency.
The Vice President also called on all 24 senators to set aside their differences and focus on the institution's constitutional mandate and priorities.
Duterte said discussions on the Senate's direction should involve all members of the chamber, including those who are currently jailed and in hiding.
“Sila ay hindi dalawang grupo kundi isang institusyon. Dapat pag-usapan ng 24 kasama ang nakakulong, ang nagtatago kung ano ba dapat ang prayoridad ng kanilang institusyon at kanilang trabaho na naaayon sa ating Saligang Batas” she said.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada is currently under detention on graft and plunder charges, while Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa remains in hiding following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.
