Chiz Escudero: Senate impasse is untenable, unacceptable

Applause from fellow senators greeted Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero as he entered the Senate plenary hall on Wednesday to join the 11 minority senators, saying the ongoing impasse in the chamber had become "untenable and unacceptable" and was already affecting the Senate's performance of duties.

With 12 senators present, a roll call was called and a quorum was declared, paving the way for the election of Senate officials, except for the Senate presidency, and heads of several key committees.

The Senate had failed to convene for two days since Monday due to the absence of the members of the majority bloc.

"The current impasse in the Senate is untenable and unacceptable," Escudero said in a statement.

"When political divisions become too extreme and obstruct our mandate, we must all have the courage to pause, gain perspective, reflect, consider and realize that we should put the Senate, as the institution that we serve, above ourselves," he added,

Escudero, a former Senate President, said he was taking a stand for Senate, not for any political faction.

"My allegiance is not to any faction, personality, group or alliance. This is not about loyalty, betrayal, or choosing one group over the other—this is about duty," he said.

"Hindi ito usaping pampulitika. Wala akong sinasamahan o iniiwanang grupo, pangkat o paksyon. Hindi ko sinasabi na may mali o tama o may nagkulang o nagmalabis kaninuman. Ngunit hindi pwedeng manatili tayo sa ganitong sitwasyon. Ang naaapektuhan na ay ang mismong kakayahan ng Senado na gampanan ang kaniyang tungkulin sa bayan," Escudero said.

Photo from the FB post of Sen. Risa Hontiveros

During the session, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was elected Senate President Pro Tempore and presiding officer.

The new leadership also installed chairpersons of several committees, including the Blue Ribbon panel.

In a Facebook post, Sen. Bam Aquino thanked Escudero for his courage and love for the Senate.

"Maraming salamat, Sen. Chiz, sa inyong katapangan at pagmamahal sa ating institusyon ng Senado at sa ating bansa. Balik trabaho, para sa bayan," Aquino said.

"Mabuhay mga kasama. Let's get to work," said Sen. Risa Hontiveros in a separate post.

The Senate needs to tackle pending measures, including health-related bills, before the end of the 20th Congress. —LDF, GMA News