Sherwin Gatchalian: Leadership row won't stall Senate workers' pay

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday assured the pay and benefits for some 2,000 Senate employees would not be affected by the ongoing leadership row with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Gatchalian said in a virtual interview that the LandBank of the Philippines has completed the transfer of signature for employees' pay to him. He also signed the chamber's automatic debit arrangement (ADA) with the state bank as well as the approval of the promotion of some employees.

“Marami sa kanila, kinakabahan sa sweldo because of what’s happening. Marami relies on their weekly salary. I assured them na hindi mangyayari yun,” he told reporters.

(A lot of the employees were worried their pay would be affected by the leadership row because they rely on their weekly salary. I assured them that would not happen.)

The Senate is embroiled in turmoil as two blocs -- one led by Gatchalian and the other by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano -- fight over the leadership of the chamber.

Cayetano earlier offered Gatchalian a power sharing deal to ensure continued operations of the Senate but the latter rejected the proposal. Gatchalian likewise commended former Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales for adhering to the directive and for writing a letter to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. that he would turn over his responsibilities.

"There's only one Senate President Pro Tempore, there's only one designated acting Senate President and therefore since tayo ang Senate President Pro Tempore at acting Senate President, gagampanan natin ang ating trabaho at sisiguraduhin natin na di mapuputol ang operations ng Senado," Gatchalian added.

(There's only one Senate President Pro Tempore, there's only one designated acting Senate President and therefore since we were elected to do that, we will fulfill our role and ensure the Senate operations will not be stalled.)

On June 3, Gatchalian was installed was elected Senate President Pro Tempore after the Senate reconvened paving the way for the minority bloc-led senators in attendance to declare him the acting Senate President.

However, Cayetano is insisting he remains the leader of the upper chamber and continues to issue memorandums as Senate Presdent.

"Nasa kanya yan. It's up to him kung gusto niya maglabas pa or hindi. Akin ang pinakaimportante tuloy ang operations," Gatchalian said.

(It's up to him if he wants to issue memorandums but for me, what's important is that our operations will continue.) —VAL, GMA News