Metro Manila, Philippines – Sen. Joel Villanueva said on Sunday, June 14, that he would attend a special session of Congress if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were to call one.
“Sa pagkakataon po na magkaroon ng special session, tutuparin po natin ang ating sagradong tungkulin sa ilalim ng ating Saligang Batas. We will be there,” Villanueva said in a video message to the Jesus is Lord Church, the religious group founded by his father, Eddie Villanueva.
[Translation: “In the event that there is a special session, we will fulfill our sacred duty under the Constitution.”]
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has counted Villanueva in his bloc, which refuses to recognize the new majority and the leadership of Senator Win Gatchalian.
“The Senate staff should not be caught in the middle of this political fight. Hindi po pwede puro away na lang. Bilang mga lingkod-bayan, prayoridad po natin dapat ang siguruhin na patuloy na nagtatrabaho ang bawat isa sa atin, lalo na ang Senado,” Villanueva said.
[Translation: “We cannot just fight all the time. As public servants, our priority should be to ensure that everyone continues to work, especially the Senate.”]
Meanwhile, there has been speculation that Villanueva might cross over and join the Gatchalian bloc, which would give the group the 13-strong majority needed to officially elect a new Senate President.
This follows Sen. Chiz Escudero’s surprise jump to the so-called “new majority” on June 3, which led to Gatchalian’s election as acting Senate president. Members of the Cayetano bloc boycotted that session.
According to an earlier statement from Palace press officer Claire Castro, Marcos wants the Senate to resolve its impasse before he calls a special session.
