Marcos recognizes Sherwin Gatchalian's leadership on Independence Day

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday acknowledged the leadership of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian during the 128th Philippine Independence Day celebration.

In his speech, as he greeted the guests, Marcos called Gatchalian the Senate President Pro Tempore.

Gatchalian is personally present at the event held at Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

In a Senate session on June 3, with 12 senators present — then-minority senators plus Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero — a quorum was declared based on the Supreme Court decision in the Avelino v. Cuenco case in 1949.

All elected positions of the Senate, including that of Senate president, were declared vacant during that session.

Gatchalian was then elected Senate President Pro Tempore and was declared by the senators present as the acting Senate President.

But Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has insisted that he remains as the “legitimate, legal, moral Senate President.”

Earlier on Friday, Marcos led the flag-raising ceremony and the wreath laying at the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park.—AOL, GMA News