The House of Representatives has recognized Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian’s leadership in the Senate and expects the upper chamber to resolve its internal dispute without affecting the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said Sunday.
In an interview over dzBB’s Bantay Balita sa Kongreso with Nimfa Ravelo and Isa Avendaño-Umali, Ortega said Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III had already issued a statement acknowledging and congratulating Gatchalian after he was elected Senate President Pro Tempore by 12 senators on June 3.
The Senate declared all leadership positions vacant after 12 senators formed a quorum, invoking the Supreme Court’s 1949 ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco to prevent the chamber from being paralyzed by the former majority bloc’s refusal to attend plenary sessions for three consecutive days.
Ortega said several law schools, legal institutions, and coequal branches of government have likewise acknowledged Gatchalian’s new Senate leadership, including Malacañang and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
Apart from recognizing Gatchalian as acting Senate President, Ortega said the House has already fulfilled its constitutional duty in the impeachment process and is now waiting for the Senate impeachment court to proceed with trial preparations.
“Kami po kasi sa Kongreso, halos tapos na po. Natapos na namin ‘yung mga obligasyon namin, ‘yung trabaho namin ‘yung sa impeachment,” Ortega said.
“Gusto namin talaga ma-resolve na nila ‘yung internal issues nila kasi yung malaking question mark noong 19th Congress pa saka nitong 20th Congress eh ‘yung trial po na maumpisahan na,” he added.
Ortega said the House hopes the dispute between the supporters of ousted Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and those of Gatchalian will soon be resolved so the chamber can focus on its constitutional responsibilities, including the impeachment trial.
“So umaasa kami na magkakaroon na ng peaceful resolution ito. Sana sa mas lalong madaling panahon po na makapag-usap na sila,” he said.
Asked whether the ongoing standoff between the Gatchalian and Cayetano blocs could affect the impeachment proceedings, Ortega acknowledged it could cause delays but stressed that lawmakers remain focused on the tentative trial schedule set for July 6.
He said public interest in the impeachment trial remains high, with many Filipinos eager to see the proceedings begin after questions surrounding the vice president’s alleged misuse of confidential funds and other serious offenses cited in the articles of impeachment have remained unanswered for years.
“Nakatutok po talaga kami sa impeachment kasi pati constituents po namin—actually ‘yung sentiment survey nga namin dito sa locality—more than 86% nagtatanong kailan mag-uumpisa ang impeachment,” he added.
Ortega said political disputes within the Senate should not distract from what he described as the more important issue of accountability.
“Syempre po, ‘pag magulo ang bahay, hindi po matututukan ‘yung mga importanteng bagay na kailangan maumpisahan, gaya po sabi ko nga pinakaimportante po d’yan constitutional na obligasyon yang impeachment,” he said.
He said that once the Senate leadership issue is settled, the impeachment trial should proceed so the public can finally get answers to the allegations against the vice president, regardless of whether Duterte is convicted or acquitted by at least 16 senators.
“When the dust settles, ‘pag nawala na po lahat tong bangayan at nagkaintindihan na po sila o nagkausap o mayroon nang resolution, umpisahan na po natin tong impeachment na trial. Kasi kung ano pong resulta niyan, importante po na masagot ‘yung mga tanong ng taumbayan, mga hinahantay ng taumbayan,” Ortega said.
While Ortega stopped short of accusing anyone of deliberately delaying the impeachment proceedings, he said recent developments in the Senate have created the appearance of a distraction from more urgent matters.
“Pag binabasa mo ‘yung sitwasyon, parang may cause of smokescreen, parang may cause of delay,” he said.
“Pero hindi po pwedeng maging rason o kahit anong cause ng pagkaantala na hindi po matuloy ang impeachment,” he added.
Ortega also said that regardless of the position Duterte or her legal team may eventually take on the Senate leadership dispute, the impeachment calendar should continue moving forward.
“So kahit ano man ang opinyon ng Office of the Vice President o ng defense team nila, hindi po magiging hadlang iyon para ituloy ang calendar of impeachment,” he said.
He added that Duterte’s filing of her answer to the articles of impeachment indicates recognition, even from the defendant, that the impeachment process is moving forward.
“Ibig sabihin po, kinikilala din nila na magkakaroon talaga ng calendar at magkakaroon na po ng trial,” Ortega said.
The Senate has yet to formally end the internal conflict between the Cayetano and Gatchalian blocs before proceeding with deliberations on priority measures, committee hearings, and most especially, the start of the vice president’s impeachment trial.
With Congress adjourning sine die, public clamor has grown for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to call the legislative branch into a special session to prevent delays in the passage of important measures and in the impeachment trial.