Kiko Pangilinan to Cayetano bloc: Follow Chiz Escudero, join our side

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Friday urged members of the Cayetano bloc to follow Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero and join their alliance under the leadership of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

"Ang panawagan natin sa ating mga kasamahan sa kabila na sumunod na sa yapak ni former Senate President Chiz Escudero," Pangilinan told Super Radyo dzBB.

(Our call is for our colleagues on the other side is to follow the footsteps of former Senate president Chiz Escudero and join us.)

"Ang panawagan natin, tama na. Suportahan na nila si Win Gatchalian. And I know, in their hearts, many of them in the other side, alam nilang more than qualified si Senator Win to be SP (Senate President). So we can put our House in order," he added.

(Our call is, end this. Support Win Gatchalian. And I know, in their hearts, many of them on the other side know that Senator Win is more than qualified to be SP. So we can put our House in order.)

On Wednesday, Escudero made a surprise appearance at the Senate, paving the way for senators in attendance to elect Gatchalian as the new Senate President Pro Tempore and declare him as the acting Senate President.

Citing the Supreme Court (SC) jurisprudence on Avelino vs. Cuenco, members of the Gatchalian bloc said they had a quorum with 12 members present.

In a joint statement moments after Gatchalian's election, they referred to themselves as "the new Senate majority."

"Our people do not deserve itong impasse na ito and we're putting all effort [to resolve it]. Nanunuyo para magkaroon ng stabilidad at suportahan na nila si Senator Win Gatchalian," Pangilinan added.

(Our people do not deserve this impasse. We're putting all effort [to resolve it]. We extend this invitation so there would be stability and so that they support Senator Win Gatchalian.)

EXPLAINER: What happened in Avelino v. Cuenco case on Senate leadership change?

In a statement on Wednesday, Escudero said he taking a stand for the Senate and that he did not have allegiance to any political faction.

"This is not about loyalty, betrayal, or choosing one group over the other—this is about duty," Escudero said, adding that the Senate's ability to fulfill its mandate to the nation was already affected.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has insisted that he remains the leader of the chamber, adding that the new majority senators failed to secure 13 votes for Gatchalian.

On Thursday, the Cayetano-led Senate Blue Ribbon Committee conducted a hearing into the multi-billion peso flood control scandal.

Invited to the hearing were supposed former Marines and soldiers who delivered cash kickbacks to several personalities. They implicated some incumbent lawmakers during the legislative inquiry including Senators Vincente "Tito" Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo.

Tulfo was named as the new chairperson of the powerful Senate panel under the Gatchalian bloc.

"To be fair, that is something we discussed. Magpupulong uli kami tomorrow morning and we'll see (To be fair, that is something we discussed. We will meet again tomorrow morning and we'll see). He has to explain. Whether he (Tulfo) will inhibit or not, we will discuss," Pangilinan said.

Plunder cases

Pangilinan called the Cayetano-led hearing as "bogus," citing the lack of documentation of the legislative inquiry. He said with no stenographers and records, "it's as if that hearing didn't happen."

"Si Senator Pia Cayetano, as chairman of the Blue Ribbon, [is] acceptable to me. Walang problema pero kung talagang sinsero at seryoso ang majority bloc nila na may mga pananagutan bakit yung dalawang vice chairman ng komite nila ay parehong may plunder case? Sinasabi nila galit sa plunder, corruption...ang hirap dito sa kabila iba ang sinasabi sa ginagawa," he added.

(Sen. Pia Cayetano as chairperson of the BRC is acceptable to me. I have no problem with that. But if they are truly sincere, then why are their two vice-chairpersons facing plunder cases? They say they are angry with plunder and corruption... The problem with the other side is that their actions do not match their words.)

Earlier, Tulfo announced the hearing of the Blue Ribbon panel under his helm would be moved to Monday, June 8.

Some of the supposed 18 former Marines were invited to the scheduled legislative inquiry. — VDV, GMA News