SOON after being advised by his evangelist dad, Senator Joel Villanueva hinted at breaking the senate impasse by joining the special session in the event one is called during the legislative break.
At the Sunday church service of Jesus is Lord church, JIL evangelist Eduardo Villanueva advised his senator-son “to listen to his conscience, and not his friends in politics.”
In response, Sen. Villanueva, who forms part of the Cayetano bloc which has been boycotting senate sessions, assured JIL members that he will attend a special session of Congress if only to resolve pending legislative work and other equally important agenda which requires congressional concurrence.
“Sa pagkakataon na magkaroon ng special session, tutuparin po natin ang ating sagradong tungkulin sa ilalim ng ating Saligang Batas. We will be there,” Villanueva said in a video message during the JIL worship service, ABS CBN reported.
“We will fulfill our sacred duty under the Constitution. We will be there.”
What Went Before
Previously, Sen. Francis Escudero “jumped ship” finally allowing the senate to form a quorum for the session to proceed. During the plenary, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was elected Senate president pro tempore.
Cayetano however remains the senate president with the senate majority still short of one dissenter. Villanueva’s attendance would complete the constitutionally-mandated quorum of 13 to elect senate president.
The June 3 session before Congress went on break saw attendance by the then 11-member minority bloc — plus Escudero.
Villanueva has been rumored to be a potential addition to the Gatchalian bloc, which would make him a key player for the Senate to finally elect a new Senate president, which would effectively oust Cayetano — ending the power struggle at the chamber.
Caught In Between
Villanueva, in his speech, said those spreading the rumors seem to have put him “between two colliding forces — “I was going through challenges in the past months. Indeed, there are times when you need to choose what is right, even if not the easiest.”
Villanueva lamented how the Senate leadership fiasco affected the upper chamber’s work and caught the staff in the middle.
Malacañang previously said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is “inclined” to call for a special session to reconvene lawmakers to pass several policies during their sine die adjournment.
Villanueva hinted at filing a resolution to secure sufficient funds for the relief, rehabilitation and recovery of communities affected by the Mindanao quake and push for the approval of the necessary bills, including those in third and final reading.
Compromise Deal?
Villanueva is being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection over alleged involvement in corruption in flood-control projects in Bulacan, his home province.
At this point no one is guessing what the quid pro quo was used in convincing Villanueva to change his mind and join the special session, which by then is dominated by the Gatchalian bloc.
Villanueva’s attendance at a special session could provide the numerical threshold needed to formally install Gatchalian (replacing Cayetano) and put an end to weeks of uncertainty over the Senate leadership.
The senator cited the need for lawmakers to focus on their constitutional duties and public service — “As public servants, our priority is to ensure that each of us continues to work, especially the Senate, for our countrymen.”
Senate Demoralization
“The Senate employees should not be caught in the middle of the fight. We can’t keep fighting all the time,” as he lamented the impact of the dispute on Senate personnel and operations.
Villanueva said the institution has also been hampered by reported security threats as he urged senators not to lose sight of pressing national concerns, including the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao on June 8.
“This is not the time to take sides. It is our duty to protect our institution and prioritize the welfare of our fellow citizens,” Villanueva stressed.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson welcomed Villanueva’s declaration, saying attendance at a special session is a constitutional duty regardless of political affiliation.
“I just hope his colleagues in the Cayetano bloc have the same attitude,” Lacson said in an interview on radio dzBB.
Deliberate Deferment
Lacson reiterated that the majority bloc deliberately deferred the election of a Senate President because it wanted to comply strictly with the constitutional requirement of 13 votes.
“We adhere to the provision of the Constitution that there has to be 13 votes to elect a Senate President.That’s why the election of a Senate President is on hold despite the opinions of several legal luminaries that it can be done even with 12 votes only,” Lacson stressed.
The majority currently controls 12 votes, including that of Sen. Francis Escudero, whose surprise attendance on June 3 enabled the then 11-member minority bloc led by Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to constitute a quorum and declare all Senate leadership positions vacant.
13 The Magic Number
Under the Constitution, the Senate President must be elected by a majority of all members, or at least 13 senators.
While some legal experts have argued that Gatchalian could already be recognized as the chamber’s leader, the majority bloc has insisted on securing 13 votes before holding a formal election, Inquirer explained.
Asked if Villanueva could deliver the 13th vote in favor of Gatchalian, Lacson said: “That I do not know. Sen. Joel should be the one to know that.”
By his own admission, Lacson said that the majority bloc has contingency measures in anticipation of possible disruptions during a special session by allies of Cayetano, who claims legitimacy as Senate President.
“Members of the majority bloc are ready with contingencies in case he makes a scene,” Lacson said, adding that he had advised colleagues not to underestimate Cayetano.
Hostaging The Mace
“We have discussed measures that I am not at liberty to divulge,” he added.
Lacson said Cayetano could attempt to challenge Gatchalian’s authority by insisting on presiding over the session or even trying to take control of the Senate mace, the symbol of the chamber’s authority.
“He is capable of doing anything to preserve his power,” Lacson said, claiming that most senators and Senate stakeholders have already recognized Gatchalian as the chamber’s leader.
Lacson said: “[Cayetano] should wake up to reality. Even if he shouts he is still the Senate President, no one is following him. Not even his allies who have become quiet, perhaps because they realize that the fight is over and it’s pointless to insist. There is no permanent Senate President, but for all intents and purposes, he is not the Senate President.”
He said he was hoping Cayetano would not create a spectacle once a special session is convened.
“All senators should take part in the special session. Cayetano should debate in plenary, not on Facebook,” Inquirer quoted Lacson saying.