Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday assured Senate employees and the public that the chamber’s operations remain uninterrupted despite the ongoing leadership dispute and heightened security measures over a reported threat to the institution.
In a virtual press conference, Gatchalian said the Land Bank of the Philippines, the depository bank of Senate funds, has acknowledged his authority to sign financial transactions covering salaries, incentives and other operational expenses.
“So today, I’ll be signing checks and the ADA, specifically for the incentives of employees, their efficiency incentives, which are expected to be released within the week,” Sen. Gatchalian said, referring to the Automatic Debit Arrangement.
He said the monthly operating and other expenses of senators’ offices would also be released this week. He also said he has signed the promotion papers of at least eight Senate employees.
“So, I’ve been really busy to make sure that the employees’ welfare will not be hampered, including their salaries and benefits,” he said.
Sen. Gatchalian has been issuing memoranda and directives concerning Senate operations after the June 3 leadership change, while Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who maintains that he remains Senate president, continues to issue separate orders.
Sen. Gatchalian insisted that the leadership change was legitimate, saying it had been recognized by Malacañang, the House of Representatives, law deans, lawyers’ groups and other institutions.
He rejected Cayetano’s claim that there are now two Senates — the Senate of the Philippines and the so-called “Senate of Malacañang,” which Cayetano apparently used to refer to the Gatchalian bloc.
“There’s only one Senate, the Senate of the Philippines. Nakita naman natin yung proceedings noong June 3. Nag-elect ng isang Senate president pro tempore at acting Senate president. Yun ang nire-recognize ng iba’t ibang branch ng government,” Sen. Gatchalian said.
“There is only one Senate, the Senate of the Philippines. We saw the proceedings on June 3, where a Senate president pro tempore and acting Senate president were elected. That is what is being recognized by different branches of government,” he added.
Sen. Gatchalian said the dispute has produced two political groups in the chamber, but not two institutions.
“So, ito ay legal and valid. Pero totoong may dalawang grupo — group ng majority na may 12 votes at ang minority na may 10,” he said.
“This is legal and valid. But it is true that there are two groups — the majority with 12 votes and the minority with 10,” he added.
Despite the standoff, Sen. Gatchalian said he remains open to talks with the Cayetano bloc to end the leadership row.
He also welcomed the plan of lawyer Jose Luis Montales, the Senate secretary under Cayetano, to turn over documents to Senate Secretary Rey Bantug.
“I wrote a letter to Atty. Montales na mag-turnover na and in fairness to him, sumulat siya kay Secretary Rey Bantug na magte-turnover na siya. I appreciate his cooperation,” Sen. Gatchalian said.
“I wrote a letter to Atty. Montales requesting him to turn over documents. In fairness to him, he wrote to Secretary Rey Bantug that he would comply. I appreciate his cooperation,” he added.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Senate employees should not be confused about which orders to follow, saying the Gatchalian leadership has already been recognized by the Civil Service Commission, Malacañang, the House of Representatives, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and other groups.
“Maliwanag naman sa atin kung sino ang kinikilala ng Malacañang, House of Representatives, ng IBP, at kung anu-ano pang mga grupo, kung sinong kinikilala talaga na liderato sa Senate,” Lacson said in an interview with radio dzMM.
“It is clear whose leadership Malacañang, the House of Representatives, the IBP and other groups recognize,” he added.
Lacson said the separate orders from Cayetano were causing confusion among Senate personnel.
“So, maliwanag na panggulo yung ginagawa ni Senator Alan, with all due respect, na nakaka-confuse, nakakagulo,” Lacson said.
“So, it is clear that what Senator Alan is doing, with all due respect, is causing confusion and disruption,” he added.
Sen. Gatchalian said there was no need to further assert his leadership because he already has management and operational control of the Senate.
He said his priority is to protect Senate employees from uncertainty, particularly over their salaries and benefits.
“I told them na I know marami sa kanila may agam-agam, marami nalilito, but I assured them and priority ko ay ang kanilang welfare kasi marami ang kinakabahan sa kanilang sweldo. I assured them na hindi mangyayari iyon,” Sen. Gatchalian said.
“I told them that I know many of them have doubts and many are confused, but I assured them that my priority is their welfare because many are worried about their salaries. I assured them that delays will not happen,” he added.