Gatchalian elected Senate president, ending two-week leadership impasse

THE Senate on Wednesday elected Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian as Senate president, ending a leadership dispute that had threatened to delay action on legislative measures and preparations for the impeachment trial of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Mr. Gatchalian got 13 votes during a special session, replacing Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who conceded the contest before the vote after acknowledging that the opposing bloc had gathered enough support to take control of the chamber.

“After speaking with Senator Joel Villanueva, it appears our colleagues on the other side will soon have the numbers to elect a new Senate president,” Mr. Cayetano said in a statement posted on his Facebook page. “I will not stand in the way of that vote.”

Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri nominated Mr. Gatchalian for the Senate’s top post, citing his leadership of several key committees, including the Finance committee.

“He has ably led some of our most demanding and time-consuming committees,” Mr. Zubiri said. “He led the Finance committee with great resolve, spearheading unprecedented initiatives to ensure accountability and transparency in the national budget.”

After Mr. Gatchalian’s election, Senator Vicente C. Sotto III was elected Senate president pro tempore, while Mr. Zubiri became majority leader.

Mr. Cayetano earlier said he would voluntarily step aside if the opposing bloc secured the 13 votes required to replace him.

In his statement, he said he would support measures aimed at helping communities affected by the recent earthquake in Mindanao.

“I will be among the first to back the measures before us to help Mindanao rise from the earthquake — to fund the relief and the rebuilding of broken communities is exactly what a Senate is for, and it has my vote without hesitation,” he said.

Mr. Villanueva had expressed openness to attending the special session, fueling speculation that he would join the bloc backing Mr. Gatchalian.

Several senators aligned with Mr. Cayetano were absent during the first half of the special session, although the chamber proceeded with the leadership vote after the Gatchalian bloc secured the support needed to reorganize the Senate leadership.

The change in leadership comes as the Senate faces pressure to tackle priority legislation and preparations for the impeachment proceedings against Ms. Duterte.

Despite the leadership change, several members of the minority bloc attended the special session and the meeting of the Commission on Appointments.

Senators Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, Lorna Regina “Loren” B. Legarda, Rodante D. Marcoleta, and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go were present during the appointment meeting.

When the Senate resumed session at around 3 p.m., Ms. Legarda moved to designate Mr. Cayetano as minority floor leader on behalf of their bloc.

“This manifestation is to ensure the orderly discharge of the functions of the whole Senate as an institution and the minority during the pendency of the said case,” Ms. Legarda said, referring to the petition filed before the Supreme Court questioning the validity of the June 3 session.

‘COMMON SENSE’
Ms. Legarda also acknowledged Mr. Gatchalian’s election as Senate president. Only Ms. Marcos, Ms. Legarda, Senators Camille A. Villar and Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano remained present during the latter part of the session.

Asked about the leadership change, Ms. Cayetano said their bloc had accepted the outcome of the vote.

“Common sense. What’s in the Constitution? When you have 13 [senators], that’s it. We only have a problem when the rules are not being followed,” she told reporters.

The Senate also adopted two resolutions addressing the aftermath of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao.

Lawmakers approved on second reading the proposed Agricultural Cooperatives Act, Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act, and Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, while three local bills were passed on third reading.

The chamber also ratified the bicameral conference committee report on amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education bill.

In his remarks, Mr. Gatchalian called for unity in addressing rising commodity and fuel prices, the Mindanao earthquake and the threat of El Niño.

“I call on my colleagues, regardless if minority or majority, for us to unite and face the challenges of our country together,” he said in Filipino. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel