House recognizes Gatchalian leadership in Senate – Ortega

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has recognized Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian’s leadership and expects the chamber’s internal dispute to be resolved without affecting the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said on Sunday.

Speaking in an interview on dzBB’s Bantay Balita sa Kongreso with Nimfa Ravelo and Isa Avendaño-Umali, Ortega said Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III had already issued a statement acknowledging and congratulating Gatchalian after he was elected Senate President Pro Tempore by 12 senators on June 3.

The Senate declared all leadership positions vacant after 12 senators formed a quorum, invoking the Supreme Court’s 1949 ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco to prevent the chamber from being paralyzed by the former majority bloc’s refusal to attend plenary sessions for three consecutive days.

Ortega also noted that several law schools, legal institutions, and co-equal branches of government have recognized Gatchalian’s leadership, including Malacañang and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Apart from recognizing Gatchalian as acting Senate president, Ortega said the House has already fulfilled its constitutional duty in the impeachment process and is now awaiting the Senate impeachment court’s preparations for trial.

READ: Senate urged to end row to avoid Duterte impeachment trial delays

“We in Congress are almost done. We have already fulfilled our obligations and completed our work on the impeachment,” Ortega said in Filipino.

“We really want them to resolve their internal issues because the biggest question mark from the 19th Congress up to this 20th Congress is when the trial will finally begin,” he added.

Ortega said the House remains hopeful that the dispute between supporters of ousted Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Gatchalian will soon be resolved so the chamber can focus on its constitutional responsibilities, including the impeachment trial.

“So we hope this will be resolved peacefully. Hopefully, they can sit down and talk as soon as possible,” he said.

Asked whether the continuing standoff between the Gatchalian and Cayetano blocs could affect the impeachment proceedings, Ortega acknowledged that it could cause delays but stressed that lawmakers remain focused on the tentative July 6 trial schedule.

He also noted that public interest in the impeachment trial remains high, with many Filipinos eager to see the proceedings begin after years of unanswered questions about the vice president’s alleged misuse of confidential funds and other serious offenses cited in the articles of impeachment.

“We are really focused on the impeachment because even our constituents—based on our local sentiment survey—more than 86 percent are asking when the impeachment trial will begin,” he added.

According to Ortega, political disputes within the Senate should not distract from what he described as the more important issue of accountability.

“Of course, when there is disorder in the house, important matters that need to be started cannot be given proper attention. As I said, the most important thing here is the constitutional obligation to conduct the impeachment,” he said.

He added that once the Senate leadership issue is settled, the impeachment trial should proceed so the public can finally get answers to the allegations against the vice president, regardless of whether Duterte is convicted or acquitted by at least 16 senators.

“When the dust settles, when all the quarrels are over, and they have reached an understanding or a resolution, let us begin the impeachment trial. Whatever the outcome, it is important that the people’s questions are answered and that their expectations are addressed,” Ortega said in Filipino.

While Ortega stopped short of accusing anyone of deliberately delaying the impeachment proceedings, he admitted that recent developments in the Senate have created the appearance of a distraction from more pressing matters.

“When you look at the situation, it seems there is a smokescreen and a cause for delay,” he said in Filipino.

“But that cannot be used as a reason or justification for postponing the impeachment,” he added.

Ortega also emphasized that regardless of the position eventually taken by Duterte or her legal team on the Senate leadership dispute, the impeachment calendar should continue moving forward.

“Whatever the opinion of the Office of the Vice President or her defense team, that should not prevent the impeachment calendar from proceeding,” he said.

The deputy speaker stressed that Duterte’s decision to file her answer to the articles of impeachment indicates that even the respondent recognizes that the impeachment process is moving forward.

“That means they also recognize that there will indeed be an impeachment calendar and a trial,” Ortega said.

The Senate has yet to formally resolve the conflict between the Cayetano and Gatchalian blocs before proceeding with priority legislation, committee hearings, and Duterte’s impeachment trial.

However, with Congress now adjourned sine die, public calls have intensified for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to convene a special session to prevent delays in both the passage of key measures and the impeachment trial.