Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the “Senate-flix is over” as he urged senators from both the majority and minority to return to legislative work following his election to the post.
In a press conference, Sen. Gatchalian said the chamber will prioritize key Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) measures, along with preparations for the impeachment proceedings set on July 6.
“Back to work na tayo. In the next few weeks, ilalatag na namin ang LEDAC bills na kailangan matapos. Ilalatag na rin namin ang preparations para sa impeachment on July 6,” he said.
He said the Senate has already coordinated with security and enforcement agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Pasay City local government, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and others, in preparation for both legislative and security requirements.
Sen. Gatchalian said committee hearings may resume as panel assignments were already constituted during the recent special session.
He also declined to preempt whether more senators would join the majority bloc, but stressed that the leadership remains open to all members willing to cooperate.
“Even before the special session, nanawagan tayo na dumalo ang ating mga kasamahan dahil marami tayong importanteng measures na pag-uusapan,” he said.
The Senate chief thanked Sen. Joel Villanueva for attending the special session, saying it helped the chamber resume formal work.
“What Senator Villanueva did was an act of statesmanship. We are deeply grateful for his selflessness at a time when the Senate needed it most,” he said.
Sen. Gatchalian also cited Sen. Francis Escudero’s attendance during the June 3 session, which he said was key to enabling the chamber to convene and proceed with leadership changes.
“Senator Escudero’s decision was the turning point. Without it, today would not have been possible,” he said.
Escudero earlier described the political deadlock as “untenable and unacceptable,” a view Sen. Gatchalian echoed, stressing the need for unity in the chamber.
“Iyon ang klase ng paninindigan na kailangan ng Senado sa oras ng krisis—hindi pagpili ng panig, kundi pagpili ng tungkulin,” he added.