Metro Manila, Philippines — Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian stood by the postponement of the blue ribbon committee hearing even as Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies pushed ahead with their own meeting with witnesses in the flood control controversy.
Gatchalian said there was no official blue ribbon hearing on Thursday, June 4, after new committee chairman Erwin Tulfo moved the inquiry to Monday, June 8.
“Walang hearing ngayon. There’s no hearing today,” Gatchalian told reporters on Thursday, June 4.
He said resource persons would not be allowed entry into the Senate for a hearing that had not been officially convened.
“Since walang hearing, walang resource persons,” Gatchalian said.
[Translation: Since there is no hearing, there are no resource persons.]
“Yung resource persons hindi pwedeng makapasok dahil walang hearing,” he said.
[Translation: The resource persons cannot enter because there is no hearing.]
Despite this, Cayetano insisted the witnesses should be allowed to testify.
“Wala naman tayong naging problema since the 1987 Constitution pagdating sa mga witness. So simple lang sa lahat ng ating kababayan, let them testify,” he said.
[Translation: We have not had any problems with witnesses since the 1987 Constitution. It’s simple — let them testify.]
Cayetano also questioned restrictions on the entry of resource persons into the Senate premises.
“Hindi daw mapasok yung resource person? Bakit nga hindi? Kayo ang nasa media. Martial law ba tayo ngayon?” he said.
[Translation: They say the resource persons cannot enter? Why not? You are the ones in the media. Are we under martial law now?]
Cayetano said he remains the legitimate presiding officer of the chamber and therefore retains authority over Senate premises.
“Did they elect my successor? They did not elect my successor. So I am still Senate president,” Cayetano said.
He cited Senate rules stating that the term of office of Senate officials ends only upon the election of their successors.
“Kasama doon yung pag-manage ng premises ng Senado,” he said.
[Translation: That includes managing the Senate premises.]
“So kung sino man ang hindi susunod sa amin dito na papasukin is going against the rules of the Senate and the Constitution of the Philippines,” Cayetano said.
[Translation: Whoever refuses to follow our directive on who may enter is going against the rules of the Senate and the Constitution of the Philippines.]
The dispute comes a day after a group of senators convened a session, declared key posts vacant, and elected Gatchalian as president pro tempore and acting Senate president.
The same session also installed new committee chairpersons, including Sen. Erwin Tulfo, as head of the blue ribbon committee.
While Gatchalian said senators remain free to hold meetings and consultations, he said official committee hearings must follow established Senate procedures.
