Speaker Faustino “Bodjie” Dy III led the House of Representatives in congratulating Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on his assumption as acting Senate president, as House officials stressed the need for a functioning Senate to advance legislation and perform its constitutional duties.
In a statement, Dy said the country needs stable and working institutions, particularly at a time when major legislative and oversight responsibilities remain before Congress.
“On behalf of the House of Representatives, we extend our warmest congratulations to the Acting Senate President, Sherwin Gatchalian, on your assumption of this important responsibility,” Dy said.
“At a time when our nation looks to its institutions for stability and leadership, a fully functioning Senate is essential to advancing legislation, exercising oversight, and upholding democratic governance,” he added.
Dy expressed confidence that under Gatchalian’s leadership, the Senate would continue to perform its constitutional functions with independence and commitment to public service.
“We are confident that under your stewardship, the Senate will continue to discharge its constitutional duties with integrity, independence, and dedication to the public interest,” Dy said.
“We wish Acting Senate President Gatchalian every success as he leads the chamber in addressing the challenges and opportunities before our country,” he added.
The House leadership’s statement came as members of the House prosecution panel reiterated their readiness for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which is expected to begin in July.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the prosecution panel, said the team remains prepared to proceed regardless of changes in the Senate leadership.
“The House prosecution panel is ready to proceed to trial in July under any Senate leadership and under any Presiding Officer of the Senate Impeachment Court,” Ridon said.
House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong also said the leadership developments in the Senate are internal matters of a co-equal chamber.
“The recent leadership changes in the Senate are an internal matter of our co-equal chamber, and we fully respect the decision and prerogative of the senators,” Adiong said.
“For our part, the 11-member House prosecution panel remains fully prepared and steadfast in carrying out its constitutional mandate. We are confident in the strength of the evidence and trust that the senator-judges will faithfully uphold their solemn duty to conduct the proceedings with fairness, impartiality, and fidelity to the Constitution,” he added.
Adiong likewise congratulated Gatchalian and expressed hope that the Senate would continue discharging its legislative and constitutional responsibilities.
“We likewise extend our warm congratulations to the new Acting Senate President. We wish him wisdom, success, and steady leadership as he guides the Senate in the discharge of its legislative and constitutional responsibilities,” he said.
“The prosecution remains focused on the evidence, the constitutional process, and the timely resolution of the impeachment trial. We look forward to the trial proceeding in accordance with the previously announced timelines,” Adiong added.
Former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers also welcomed the emergence of a new Senate majority, saying it helped avert a possible constitutional problem and allowed the chamber to continue performing its mandate.
Barbers lauded the new majority “for its loyalty to the Constitution for convening and thus aborting a possible constitutional debacle envisioned under Article VI, Section 16, Paragraph 2 of the 1987 Constitution.”
“It is the greatest act of public service when we put the interest of the people and the country above ourselves. Today we have seen this in the collective decision of the new Senate majority. They deserve our support and congratulations,” Barbers said.
“With this act, the people can now expect that their elected leaders will move forward and tackle the pending matters at hand, aimed at continuing progress and exacting accountability,” he added.
House officials said the Senate leadership development was a step toward restoring the chamber’s ability to continue legislative work, exercise oversight, and act as an impeachment court in the trial of the Vice President.