A seasoned former senator on Tuesday said that the Senate leadership impasse will be resolved, as it will be the first to be tackled when both chambers of Congress hold a special session.
Aside from tackling important measures, former Senate President Franklin Drilon said it cannot be denied that the special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will include discussions on the formal change in leadership following the election of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore, as all positions were declared vacant after a quorum of 12 was declared in their last session day after the faction of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano skipped plenary sessions for the third straight day from June 1 to 3.
“Kasama po pareho yan dahil sa kailangan naman may stability sa Senado lalo na darating ang impeachment trial…Sa kabilang dako, kailangan din ang mga panukalang batas na nabinbin dahil sa boycott. Kaya sa akin wala namang masama sabihin na yan ay para lang magkaroon ng bagong pinuno ang Senado…Eh kung wala, ku-kuwestyunin araw-araw yung liderato ni Sen. Win Gatchalian
(Those will be discussed because we need stability in the Senate, especially now that the impeachment trial will start…On the other hand, proposed measures which were stalled due to the boycott need to be discussed also. That’s why, for me, there’s nothing wrong in saying that the special session was called to have a fresh leadership…Otherwise, the leadership of Sen. Win Gatchalian will be questioned every day),” Drilon said in an interview on radio.
“Dahil ako ay nakasisiguro na ang unang item ay ang paghalal ng pangulo ng Senado at committee chairmanship. So lahat ng duda tungkol sa legitimacy, hindi lang sa Senate president kundi pati ng chairmanship ng mga committee, yan po ay will be laid to rest
(Because I am very sure that the first item will be the election of a Senate president and committee chairmen. So, all doubts on the legitimacy of the Senate leader and committee chairmanships will be laid to rest),” he added.
Gatchalian, in a chance interview in the Senate, kept mum when asked if there will indeed be a formal change in leadership today.
“Let’s see… I don’t want to comment on that,” Gatchalian said.
He also did not comment if there will be some senators in Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano will cross over to their side so they can have more numbers to formally elect him as the permanent Senate president.
Gatchalian’s bloc has 12 members, which is short of at least one member to formally elect him as the permanent Senate president.
“Let’s see… Ang importante naman para sa akin itong mga bills matapos siya at saka yung CA mag-confirm ng mga general
(Let’s see. Because what’s important for me is we finish discussions of the pending bills and the Commission on Appointments confirmation of five [colonels to] generals),” he added.
Drilon, in the radio interview, said Gatchalian needs to have at least 13 votes for him to be formally installed as Senate president; thus, there will be no more issue to bring to the Supreme Court.
He said even the committee chairmanship issues will be resolved during the special session.
“Yung leadership ng Senado yan ay mare-resolve with finality pagdating ng special session at magkakaroon ng botohan hindi lang sa pangulo ng Senado, Kundi sa committee chairmanship, at isa na yung Blue Ribbon Committee kaya wala nang magiging question sa legitimacy ng any hearing
(The leadership issue in the Senate will be resolved with finality during the special session. There will be an election not only for the Senate leader, but also for the committee chairmanships, as well, including the Blue Ribbon Committee. With this, there will be no more questions as to the legitimacy of any committee hearing),” Drilon added.
Gatchalian said they will start the special session at 9 am and it is expected to last until 4 to 5 pm.
He earlier issued a statement enjoining all senators to attend the special session but has not received word from any member of the Cayetano faction if they will attend.
When asked if he has talked to Sen. Joel Villanueva after the latter assured that he will attend the special session, Gatchalian said he has not been able to talk to their colleague who belongs to the Cayetano bloc.
In any case, he said they will still have a quorum based on the Avelino versus Cuenco case if the Cayetano bloc does not attend today’s session.
He said the CA meeting will also not be affected if the other faction does not attend the special session since it will be a confirmation meeting together with members of the House of Representatives.