'Senateflix' over: Gatchalian says Senate now back to work

Newly elected Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Thursday the "Senateflix" storyline that played out in the upper chamber has ended, with senators now starting to resume legislative work.

In a media briefing, Gatchalian said the Senate will now lay out the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority bills that need to be passed, and the preparations for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

"Tapos na ang Senateflix. Back to work na tayo so in the next few weeks, ilalatag na namin ang LEDAC bills na dapat matapos," he told reporters.

(The Senateflix has now ended. It's back to work for us. So in the next few weeks, we will lay out the LEDAC bills that need to be passed.)

"Ilalatag na rin namin ang preparations for the impeachment on July 6. Tuloy-tuloy ang coordination with our intelligence clusters, and enforcement agencies," the senator added.

(We will also lay out the preparations for the impeachment trial on July 6. We're coordinating with our intelligence clusters and enforcement agencies.)

Gatchalian was formally elected Senate President during a special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday after securing 13 votes. His predecessor, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, conceded that he already lost the presidency after two of his allies jumped ship to the Gatchalian bloc.

Named Senate President Pro Tempore was Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri as Senate Majority Floor Leader.

"In the next few weeks, we will focus on the bills. We will request the senators to already proceed with their hearings...para pagpasok natin tuloy-tuloy na ang discussion ng LEDAC bills and other priority measures ng ating mga senators," Gatchalian said.

(In the next few weeks, we will focus on the bills. We will request the senators to already proceed with their hearings so the LEDAC bills and other priority measures will continue after the resumption of session.)

"Back to work season na tayo," he added.

(It's back to work season for us.)

According to the senator, the Senate has also started the physical and logistical preparations for Duterte's impeachment trial and has coordinated with law enforcement agencies.

"That is the biggest challenge—the logistics portion. Maliit ang Senado. Ang pinakaproblema is space. Ang prosecution, gusto nila may sariling huddle room and media room... ang defense gan'un din," he said

(That is the biggest challenge—the logistics portion. The space in the Senate is limited. The prosecution and defense want their own separate huddle and media rooms.)

"It's very difficult. We need to make do with our limited space," Gatchalian added.

Caucus

Meanwhile, Gatchalian said he will call for an all-member caucus ahead of the impeachment trial.

"Marami—security, schedule, outcome ng pre-trial confence kasi the conference will narrow down the time kung gaano kahaba. It will narrow down the day also, kung sino testigo ang ipepresenta, anong ebidensya. Lahat 'yan, per day, nakalatag na," he added.

(We have a lot to talk about during the caucus—security, schedule, and the outcome ng pre-trial conference because it will narrow down the time and the days for the impeachment.)

Heightened security

The Senate chief further said the chamber will remain under heightened alert status. The no-visitor policy will also still be imposed.

"We will request the chairmen or committee security to submit the guest list ahead of time," Gatchalian said.

"Ang plano namin ng OSAA is every end of the week, is to have a security briefing with the PNP and other agencies para malaman natin ang status for the next week. We'll take this week by week," he added.

(Our plan is to have a security briefing with the OSAA and PNP every end of the week. We'll take this week by week.) — VDV, GMA News