A group of lawmakers wrested back control of a bitterly divided Senate, electing an acting president amid a boycott by Vice-President Sara Duterte’s supporters ahead of her impeachment trial.
Pro-Duterte lawmakers began their Senate boycott this week after losing majority control, with one lawmaker arrested for large-scale corruption and another in hiding to avoid arrest by the International Criminal Court.
The change in leadership yesterday was made possible after Senator Francis Escudero from the pro-Duterte bloc attended the session, allowing lawmakers to reach a quorum and elect Sherwin Gatchalian in a temporary capacity.
“The Senate has been adjourned and unable to resume session for the past two days, placing us on the brink of constitutional violation had we not convened today,” Gatchalian said yesterday.
He said the quorum was calculated based on a “majority of the 22 senators over whom jurisdiction can be obtained by the Senate” – not including the lawmaker who was arrested and the other in hiding.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, leader of the pro-Duterte bloc, challenged the constitutionality of the vote, arguing that the entire 24-member chamber should have been counted.
“The majority is 13,” Cayetano said in a video message posted on social media.
“Has Philippine democracy died again? Has the Philippine Constitution been thrown out?” he said.
The presidency said the developments were in accordance with the law.
“The palace recognises and respects the decision of the new majority and the leadership of Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian,” spokesperson Claire Castro told reporters.
The surprise move came hours after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr warned that important laws may be derailed if senators continue to boycott sessions.
Marcos said his team was looking at possible laws and amendments to aid Filipinos as the Middle East conflict sends shockwaves through the global economy.
“We are trying to achieve some form of stability so that people can go on with their lives and plan ahead for their future, so that people can count on the assistance of government during this time of an emergency,” the president said.
“We cannot do that if the legislature decides to stay at home and have a vacation.”
The Philippine Constitution states that the executive is co-equal to the legislature, which will in turn limit Marcos’s options.
“We cannot tell them what to do, we cannot punish them for what they are doing,” Marcos said.
The vice-president’s Senate impeachment trial is expected to begin on July 6.
Duterte only needs nine votes from the senator-judges for her to be acquitted. — AFP
