ALAN PETER Cayetano has finally conceded the third highest elective post in the country to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the minority bloc is caving in.
In a Facebook post, Cayetano admitted that the so-called Gatchalian wing managed to secure the number which is more than enough to elect a new Senate president.
“The arithmetic has changed. The Constitution has not. And now, after speaking with Sen. Joel Villanueva, it appears our colleagues on the other side will soon have the numbers to elect a new Senate president,” said Cayetano ahead of the special session called for by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
“I will not stand in the way of that vote,” he added.
SLOWLY BUT SURELY
Easing Cayetano, who assumed senate leadership via a surprising resurfacing of fugitive Senator Ronald “Bato Dela Rosa on May 11, took the minority bloc roughly five weeks.
However, Cayetano’s senate leadership was never steady with the same group losing numbers — Dela Rosa gone into hiding amid an ICC arrest warrant, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada now behind bars for plunder, Sen. Francis Escudero who jumped ship two weeks ago — and Sen. Joel Villanueva who earlier hinted at attending the special session.
From 13, Cayetano’s number is down to just nine. Under the 1987 Constitution, a new Senate leadership requires a majority vote on the basis of 24 members.
“I may leave the position of SP, but I am honored to still be your PS — your Public Servant.” Cayetano said in his post.
RISE OF GATCHALIAN
As expected, Gatchalian was formally elected as the new Senate president, settling the two-week leadership row with Cayetano.
But even before Gatchalian was elected, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri nominated Gatchalian as Senate president.
“He’s the leader that the Senate needs in this time of division and disarray, and he has done this before. I know he’ll be able to rise above the fray and lead us back to our principal function, which is to attend to the work of legislation,” Zubiri said.
“I have every confidence that as Senate president, he’ll be able to set the institution back on the right path, guided by the highest standards of service, integrity and morality. To my colleagues, I plead, let us elect Senate President Gatchalian and let us get back to our work in this hallowed institution,” he added.
All 13 senators present voted “unanimously.” Immediately after being elected, Gatchalian then took his oath of office as Senate President, administered by Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
SIGH OF RELIEF
Quite interestingly, netizens who reacted to a GMA News Facebook post heaved a sigh of relief with the over a month old senate leadership impasse now resolved.
One FB user, journalist Stella Arnaldo of Business Mirror said: “There. There. At least may bagong career ka na as a vlogger.”
The post of GMA on Cayetano’s concession as SP generated 87,000 likes,; 14,900 comments and 5,200 shares.
Daniel Ang said: “ May nagawa ding tama. Hahaha’”
Brendon Ray said: “Ok lang yan APC, the final stage of grief is Acceptance.”
Renz Anomrac quipped: “leaving the position of SP? Since June 3, he is no longer an SP. Ano iiwanan niya?”
James Nico Gelogo said: “Natapos din sa wakas ang kanyang 5 stages of grief.”
James Mari Gaddi said: “Nawalan na ng script. hahaha
There were a few comments sympathetic to Cayetano, but these were drowned by the hugely critical comments on that GMA News post.
SENATE RIGODON
During Wednesday’s special session, Sotto was also nominated and elected as the new Senate president pro tempore. Zubiri, who was previously elected as the Senate majority leader, also assumed the post of chairperson of the Committee on Rules.
Both Sotto and Zubiri took their respective oaths.
The new Senate leadership also elected chairpersons and members of permanent committees. The newly reconstituted key committee chairmanships are:
- Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations (Blue Ribbon): Sen. Erwin Tulfo
- Finance: Sen. JV Ejercito
- National Defense & Security: Sen. Vicente Sotto III
- Public Order & Dangerous Drugs: Sen. Panfilo Lacson
- Public Services: Sen. Raffy Tulfo
- Agriculture, Food, & Agrarian Reform: Sen. Francis Pangilinan
- Foreign Relations: Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri
- Basic Education: Sen. Bam Aquino
- Health & Demography: Sen. Risa Hontiveros
- Games & Amusement: Sen. Lito Lapid
NEW BLUE RIBBON
The Senate first constituted the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, or the Blue Ribbon Committee, with 17 regular members and three ex-officio members, reflecting an 11-9 majority-minority ratio, PNA reported.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo was named Blue Ribbon chairperson, while Senators Francis Pangilinan and Panfilo Lacson were designated as vice chairpersons. Zubiri said the committee membership would cover almost all senators, subject to the prescribed limit under the rules.
Interestingly, all these happened while Cayetano was inside the Senate premises. He didn’t attend the special session. Neither did his allies attend.