Marcos 'inclined' to call for Congress special session — Usec. Castro

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is inclined to call for a special session of Congress amid the sine die adjournment should acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian request for one, Malacañang said Thursday.

At a press conference, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized that Malacañang has already recognized the leadership of Gatchalian.

Thus, she said, the Executive will only acknowledge all the messages coming from the new Senate leadership.

“Yes, opo, inclined ang Presidente to give in to the…request for a special session. Bakit? Kasi kung maraming maantala dahil sa nangyayaring ganitong kaganapan, hindi po nais ng Pangulo na magkaroon ng pag-antala sa trabaho ng Senado,” Castro said.

(Yes, the President is inclined to give in to the...request for a special session. Why? Because the President does not want there to be delays in work due to the happenings at the Senate.)

“Provided lamang po ang official request ay dapat po rin kinapapalooban ng valid grounds for a calling of a special session,” she added.

(Provided only that the official request contains valid grounds for calling a special session.)

Gatchalian, who was elected Senate President Pro Tempore on Wednesday, said the upper upper chamber is exploring a special session to address pending matters that were not tackled due to the recent developments at the Senate.

Once the formal request is sent to the Palace, Castro said that the President will act on it "as soon as possible."

Malacañang earlier admitted that the upheaval in the Senate may affect the passage of the priority measures of the Marcos administration.

The first regular session of the 20th Congress is set for sine die adjournment on June 6, 2026. Session will resume on July 27, coinciding with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). — RSJ, GMA News