MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday advised senators aligned with acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian not to support the “interim administrative arrangement” proposed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, saying such a setup would not benefit the Senate amid the ongoing leadership dispute.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Executive Branch recognizes Gatchalian’s leadership and cautioned lawmakers against entering into an arrangement that could create further uncertainty within the chamber.
PALACE CITES 2020 HOUSE LEADERSHIP CRISIS
Castro pointed to Cayetano’s controversial exit as House Speaker in 2020, when a term-sharing agreement with then-Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco broke down, resulting in a leadership showdown in the House of Representatives.
The dispute prompted then-President Rodrigo Duterte to call a special session to ensure deliberations on the proposed 2021 national budget could continue.
SENATE LEADERSHIP DISPUTE CONTINUES
The Senate remains embroiled in a leadership conflict, with both Cayetano and Gatchalian asserting authority over the chamber.
The Senate’s official website currently lists Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri as Majority Leader, reflecting the existing leadership structure recognized by Malacañang.
CAYETANO PROPOSES INTERIM ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT
Speaking at a press briefing, Cayetano confirmed that he had instructed Senate official Jose Luis Montales to coordinate with Renato Bantug Jr. regarding a proposed interim administrative arrangement.
According to Cayetano, the proposal aims to prevent Senate employees from being caught in the middle of the leadership dispute while ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the chamber.
DUAL-SIGNATORY MECHANISM SUGGESTED
One of the key features of the proposal is a dual-signatory or joint-certification mechanism for Senate documents, including vouchers, checks, contracts, disbursements, and personnel actions.
Under the arrangement, documents could bear the signatures of officials currently exercising authority as well as those claiming authority over the same functions.
CAYETANO INSISTS HE IS NOT RELINQUISHING AUTHORITY
Cayetano clarified that the proposal should not be interpreted as a surrender of his claim to the Senate presidency.
He described the arrangement as a practical and institutional measure designed to preserve the Senate’s constitutional duties and ensure continuity in its operations, including proceedings of the impeachment court, while the leadership issue remains unresolved.
How did the Senate leadership row start?
The Senate leadership dispute emerged after a majority of senators moved to reorganize the chamber’s leadership, resulting in the election of Sherwin Gatchalian as acting Senate President.
However, Cayetano has disputed the move and maintains that he remains the legitimate Senate president.
The conflict has since created competing administrative structures within the Senate, with officials aligned with both camps exercising separate functions.
The dispute has also raised concerns about the processing of official documents and the continuity of Senate operations, particularly as the chamber handles key legislative matters and impeachment proceedings.