Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang declared during a Thursday, June 4, press briefing that it recognizes Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as acting Senate president after another leadership change in the embattled chamber.
“Ang tanging mensahe na maibibigay ng Palasyo: ang kinikilala na acting Senate president ay si Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
[Translation: This is the only message the Palace can give: the recognized acting Senate president is Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.]
READ: Gatchalian is acting Senate president; Cayetano ousted
Citing the case of Avelino v. Cuenco, Castro said with a base number of 22 senators and 12 present, there was a quorum in the Senate on Tuesday, June 3, despite the absence of Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Ronald dela Rosa. She said both men were outside of the Senate’s “coercive jurisdiction.”
Estrada was arrested on plunder and graft charges in relation to the flood control scandal. Dela Rosa is a fugitive with an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
Meanwhile, Castro denied the allegations made by a witness during a gathering at the Senate on Thursday, that bags of cash were delivered to the Ilocos residence of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Anong ebidensya? Pakita muna nila ebidensya. Madali kasi magturo lalo na kung ang balak mo naman talaga ay mang-giba at magsilbing isang obstructionist or destabilizer,” Castro told reporters.
[Translation: What evidence? They should present evidence first. It’s easy to point fingers especially when the intention is to destroy and act as an obstructionist or destabilizer.]
