By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Acting Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian has rejected a proposal for a power-sharing arrangement with Alan Peter Cayetano amid the escalating leadership dispute between the Senate’s majority and minority blocs.
Gatchalian said there was no need for a power-sharing setup, stressing that the Senate had already settled the matter during its June 3 session when he was elected Senate President Pro Tempore and designated as Acting Senate President.
“There can be no power-sharing because only one person was elected,” Gatchalian maintained.
The controversy stems from the June 3 Senate session, where lawmakers were able to establish a quorum of 12 senators following the arrival of Francis Escudero. The session marked the third day of a plenary boycott by 10 senators from the minority bloc led by Cayetano, who continues to assert that he remains the legitimate Senate President.
On Monday, Cayetano floated the idea that both he and Gatchalian should serve as signatories to official Senate documents, including paperwork related to the impeachment court.
According to Cayetano, the proposal was relayed to the Senate Secretary. However, he claimed that the camp of Gatchalian responded by saying there should instead be a formal turnover, arguing that Cayetano and his allies no longer hold the positions they claim.
Meanwhile, Cayetano also issued a memorandum using the Senate President’s letterhead directing Senate employees to observe office hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday through Wednesday ahead of the June 12 Independence Day holiday.
Several Senate employees, however, reportedly noted that the adjusted work schedule is routinely implemented during long holiday weekends and would have taken effect even without a memorandum.
The leadership standoff continues to fuel tensions within the Senate, with both camps standing firm on their respective claims as questions over authority and control of official Senate functions remain unresolved.
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