Drilon urges Marcos to step in amid Senate leadership row

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should step in to help resolve the ongoing tensions between rival factions in the Senate, former Senate President Franklin Drilon said.

According to a report by Ian Cruz on "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday, Drilon said presidential intervention would help ensure the government functions smoothly.

“Kung hindi pa siya nakikialam, dapat na, at walang masama roon dahil ito ay sangay ng pamahalaan na dapat magtrabaho. Tungkulin ng Pangulo na tiyaking gumagalaw ang buong pamahalaan," he said.

(If he has not stepped in yet, he should, and there is nothing wrong with that because this is a branch of government that needs to work. It is the President's duty to ensure that the entire government functions.)

"Sa katunayan, sa ganitong hidwaan at problema, nakikialam talaga ang Pangulo. Alam ni Senator Cayetano 'yan, alam ni Senator Gatchalian 'yan,” Drilon added.

(In fact, presidents do intervene in disputes and problems like this. Senator Cayetano knows that, and Senator Gatchalian knows that.)

Drilon recalled that former president Rodrigo Duterte intervened in the leadership dispute between then-House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco over their term-sharing agreement in the House of Representatives in 2020.

When asked whether Marcos' intervention could fuel perceptions that the Senate is subservient to Malacañang, Drilon said such concerns are part of political messaging.

“Naiintindihan ko 'yan, kasama 'yan sa ating pamumulitika, kasama 'yan sa projection sa publiko. Ang katotohanan, nakikialam ang Malacañang kapag ganitong mga problema,” he said.

(I understand that. That is part of politics and part of public projection. The reality is that Malacañang does step in when problems like these arise.)

In his latest Facebook Live broadcast, Cayetano warned Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian against allowing Malacañang to use him.

“Mag-ingat si Senator Win kasi maganda naman ang future niya. Huwag kang magpagamit sa Malacañang at doon sa mga kasamahan mo kahit binibigyan ka ng mataas na posisyon. I'll give you the advice that someone I really respect gave me, which is: ‘Receive, don't grab',” he said.

(Senator Win should be careful because he has a bright future ahead of him. Do not allow yourself to be used by Malacañang or by your colleagues, even if they are offering you a high position. I'll give you the advice that someone I really respect gave me: ‘Receive, don't grab.’)

Gatchalian rejected the allegation, saying decisions within the Senate majority are based on consensus.

“Wala namang nagpapagamit kahit kanino. In fact, yung mga kasamahan namin sa majority, consensus-building kami. Nag-uusap kami sa isa't isa, nagbibigay ng payo," he said.

(No one is allowing themselves to be used by anyone. In fact, our colleagues in the majority engage in consensus-building. We talk to one another and exchange advice.)

"Wala namang monopolyo ng talino at galing. Ang aking consensus ay bumalik tayo sa trabaho dahil matagal na tayong hindi nakakapag-usap kung ano ang mga dapat gawin para sa bansa,” Gatchalian added.

(No one has a monopoly on intelligence or capability. My position is that we should return to work because it has been a long time since we discussed what needs to be done for the country.)

Malacañang and the House of Representatives earlier said they recognize Gatchalian as the Senate's leader.

The Palace has also denied allegations that Marcos played a role in the leadership changes, citing the principle of separation of powers.

“Kung nakikialam ang Pangulo, hindi magkakaroon ng putukan at lock-and-load order noong May 13. Kung nakikialam ang Pangulo sa Senado, hindi makakatakas o makakalabas ng Senado si Sen. Bato; dapat naaresto na siya,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

(If the President were intervening, there would not have been a shootout and a lock-and-load order on May 13. If the President were meddling in the Senate, Sen. Bato would not have been able to leave the Senate; he would have already been arrested.)

“Lahat ng kaguluhan sa Senado, utos o may pahintulot ni Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Ang lahat ng nangyari riyan, pati ang putukan at ang pagbo-boycott, hindi dikta ng Pangulo. Kagagawan nila iyon. Huwag magkapit-tuko sa puwesto,” she added.

(All the turmoil in the Senate happened on the orders of, or with the permission of, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Everything that happened there, including the gunfire and the boycott, was not dictated by the President. They brought it upon themselves. They should not cling to their positions.)

Former Senate President Francis Escudero likewise maintained that Malacañang had no role in his decision to attend the June 3 plenary session, which paved the way for Gatchalian's installation.

“Ang posisyon ng Palasyo, walang kinalaman sa posisyon ng Senado bilang senador. Bakit? Hindi ba masakit sa dibdib na nakikita mong nag-a-adjourn na lang ang Senado nang tatlong araw gayong naroon naman ang mga tao?” he said.

(The Palace's position has nothing to do with the position of senators in the Senate. Why? Isn't it frustrating to see the Senate adjourn for three days when the members are actually present and able to work?)—MCG, GMA News