Sherwin Gatchalian urges senators: Let's start anew

Newly elected Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday called on his colleagues in both majority and minority blocs to begin again, work together, and reclaim the Senate’s sense of purpose after weeks of deadlock.

In his acceptance address of the Senate presidency during the special session, Gatchalian committed to serve the institution and the people with full respect, diligence, and loyalty.

“Ngayong araw, nananawagan ako sa lahat ng aking kasamahan sa Senado—mayorya man o minorya—na magsimula tayong muli, magkaisa sa paglilingkod, at harapin nang sama-sama ang mga hamon ng ating bansa,” he said.

(Today, I call on all my colleagues in the Senate—majority or minority—that we begin again, unite in service, and face the challenges of our country together.)

“Maaaring magkakaiba ang ating mga pananaw, ngunit iisa ang ating misyon—ipagtanggol ang batas at maglingkod sa bayan. Iisa ang ating layunin: alagaan ang kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino,” he added.

(We may have different views, but our mission is the same—to defend the law and serve the people. Our goal is one: to take care of the welfare of every Filipino.)

Gatchalian also thanked his fellow senators for the trust and by electing him to the post.

“Tinatanggap ko ang tungkuling ito nang may buong kababaang-loob at malinaw na pagkaunawa sa bigat ng responsibilidad na kaakibat nito. Humaharap ako sa inyo bilang kapwa lingkod-bayan. Handa akong makinig, makipagtulungan, at ibuhos ang aking buong lakas upang gampanan ang tungkuling ipinagkatiwala sa akin,” he said.

(I accept this role with all humility and a clear understanding of the weight of responsibility that comes with it. I come before you as a fellow public servant. I am ready to listen, cooperate, and pour all my energy to fulfill the role entrusted to me.)

“Ang pagkakataong maglingkod bilang Senate President ay hindi pangkaraniwang karangalan. Ito ay araw-araw na panawagan na maging huwaran sa paglilingkod. Higit sa lahat, ang tungkuling ito ay pananagutan—sa Senado, sa ating Saligang Batas, at sa sambayanang Pilipino,” he continued.

(The opportunity to serve as Senate President is an extraordinary honor. It is a daily call to be exemplary in service. Above all, this role is a responsibility—to the Senate, to our Constitution, and to the Filipino people.)

Minority senators recognize

Several members of the new minority bloc, meanwhile, acknowledged the Senate presidency of Gatchalian.

“First time I’m addressing Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President. Congratulations once again for a very—a hardworking, dedicated, brilliant, disciplined public servant,” Senator Loren Legarda said.

Legarda previously held the position of Senate President Pro Tempore, until Gatchalian was elected to replace her in a June 3 session.

Senator Imee Marcos also said that she has no objections as long as the majority bloc mustered the 13 votes needed to elect a new Senate President.

“Simula’t sapul, malinaw naman sa akin at sa ilan nating kasamahan, kung may sapat na boto, maaari ninyong baguhin ang liderato sa Senado. Ngayong may sapat na boto sila, wala ng gulo,” Marcos said in a statement.

(From the start, it was clear to me and some of our colleagues that if there are enough votes, they can change the leadership in the Senate. Now that they have enough votes, there’s no more fighting.)

“Kami naman ay never napikon, nasaktan ang pride at namersonal kapag nawawala sa committee o leadership—hindi kami entitled,” she added.

(We were never offended, our pride was never hurt, and we didn’t take things personally when we were taken out of committees or leadership—we are not entitled.)

Senator Pia Cayetano also echoed this sentiment.

“May 13 ‘di ba? Common sense ‘di ba? What’s in the rules? What’s in the Constitution? When you have 13, ‘yun lang. So, kung hindi sumunod sa rules, doon lang naman kami may problema. Pero ‘pag sumunod sa Constitution at sa rules, no problem. That’s how it is,” she said.

(There's 13, right? Common sense, right? What's in the rules? What's in the Constitution? When you have 13, that's it. We’ll just have a problem if they don't follow the rules. But if they follow the Constitution and the rules, there’s no problem. That's how it is.)

Alan Cayetano as minority leader?

On behalf of the minority bloc, Legarda also manifested that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano would serve as the Minority Floor Leader.

“This is without prejudice to the final resolution of the case currently pending before the Supreme Court. And this manifestation is to ensure the orderly discharge of the functions of the whole Senate as an institution and the minority during the pendency of said case,” she said.

This was in reference to the petition for certiorari filed by Alan Cayetano and eight other senators, urging the Supreme Court to declare as null and void the June 3 session.

To recall, 12 senators held a Senate session on June 3, declaring a quorum based on the Supreme Court ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco (1949). They voted to declare all elected Senate positions vacant, including the Senate presidency.

Gatchalian was then elected Senate President Pro Tempore and was recognized by those present as acting Senate President.

Alan Cayetano conceded the Senate presidency on Wednesday morning, recognizing that the majority bloc had the numbers to push for a leadership change. — BM, GMA News