Gatchalian says he’s open to dialogue with Cayetano camp
MANILA, Philippines — Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday said he is open to dialogue with Sen. Alan Cayetano’s camp following the recent leadership impasse in the chamber.
“If you remember, I’ve already said that I’m open [to talking] with all senators. As I’ve said, be it majority or minority, I will talk to everyone. In fact, from the minority, we have a lot of personal friends there. I’ve known them for a long time,” he said in an interview with radio dzBB when asked about Cayetano’s invitation to meet.
“That’s why I’m open. And I know even Senator Alan also wants good things for our country,” he added.
In a Facebook livestream on Saturday, Cayetano invited Gatchalian to a meeting, saying he was offering a solution to settle who between them is the “true Senate president.”
“I’ll offer you a solution, Senator Win. Let’s have a meeting. I have a solution in mind. It is difficult to find a solution regarding who the true Senate president is because the three books I hold say that the legitimate Senate president is the one elected by the 13 [senators],” Cayetano said, referring to the books on the Philippine Constitution, the Rules of the Senate, and the Bible.
The Senate leadership tussle is between the new 12-member majority led by Gatchalian, who was also elected Senate President Pro Tempore during the leadership shakeup on June 3, and the 10-member minority led by Cayetano.
READ: Gatchalian yet to ask Marcos for special Senate session
No Senate president, however, has been elected, as the 1987 Constitution requires at least 13 votes to install a senator to the post.
The Gatchalian group has called on Cayetano, who insists that he is the “legal, legitimate and moral” Senate leader, to resign.
Asked how the meeting could proceed if both had invitations to each other, Gatchalian said they would probably settle it between themselves.
“Maybe we’ll just talk about how to make it happen. Anyway, we know each other, and we’ve known each other for a long time, so we’ll just find a way,” he said.
READ: Gatchalian acting Senate president as Escudero ends deadlock
Cayetano, in his video address, also warned Gatchalian not to allow himself to be used by Malacañang and the other members of his bloc.
“No one is allowing himself to be used by anybody. In fact, my colleagues in the majority are engaged in consensus-building. We talk to each other. They give advice, and I ask for advice. There is no monopoly on intelligence and talent. It is important to help each other, and that is what is good about the majority—we help each other,” Gatchalian said in response.
“So our consensus is that we go back to work. You can see it in our statements. It has been a long time since we have been able to talk about what we should do for our country,” he added.
Asked about the possibility of more senators transferring to the new majority group so the leadership issue could finally be resolved, Gatchalian said, “I can’t say that now.”
“We hope there is, that we have more colleagues, because I know we all want to work. That’s our hope and prayer,” he added. /mcm
