Sherwin Gatchalian: Senate to go back to work

Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday said that the Senate will now resume its work after days of legislative standoff.

In a press conference, Gatchalian said that following his election as Senate President Pro Tempore, he is allowed to sign documents and perform other functions of a Senate President, pending the election of the chamber's new leader.

“Let’s go back to work. Magta-trabaho na ang Senado at importante ngayon ay buo ang Senado. Ako, hindi ko tinitignan kung minority, majority. Ang tinitignan natin buong Senado,” he said.

(Let's go back to work. The Senate is going to work now. What’s important is that the Senate is whole. For me, I’m not looking at whether senators are in the minority or a majority. What we're looking at is the Senate as a whole.)

“Ang mensahe ko sa ating mga kababayan: hindi namin kayo nakakalimutan at tutugunan namin ang mga problema ng ating bansa at siguraduhin namin na ‘yun kanilang nararanasan ay mabibigyan natin ng solusyon,” he added.

(My message to our countrymen: we do not forget you, and we will address the problems of our country and we will make sure that we will provide a solution for what they are experiencing.)

Gatchalian, however, clarified that there is technically no sitting Senate President as his designation is only on an acting basis.

He said he will await the formal election of a new Senate President, replacing Alan Peter Cayetano.

Gatchalian also maintained that the proceedings in Wednesday's session were legal.

“All the proceedings are in full view of the public and compliant with our Constitution,” he said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called on senators to "get back to work" after plenary sessions had been stalled due to a “no show” from the majority bloc. —VAL, GMA News