Malacañang has made clear which figure it intends to deal with as the Senate works through its leadership turmoil: Senate President pro tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, whose word to the Executive will now carry official weight regardless of how the internal fight plays out.
That position was laid out by Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro during a June 4 briefing, one day after a reconstituted Senate majority elevated Gatchalian to acting Senate President. Castro framed the recognition as a matter of following established legal precedent rather than taking sides.
“[A]ng kinikilala ng Palasyo ang liderato ni Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian,” she said, grounding the decision in the Avelino versus Cuenco ruling. “At ito ay base sa Avelino versus Cuenco case, at ito rin ang ginawa sa panahon ni Senator Franklin Drilon noong 2015. So, tayo naman ay umaayon lamang din sa jurisprudence, sa batas at sa rule of law,” Castro added, pointing to how a similar question was handled during Franklin Drilon’s time in 2015.
On the question of who Malacañang would listen to going forward, Castro was direct. “But as far as the Palace is concerned, kinilala na po natin ang liderato ni acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. So, kung anuman po ang kanyang ibibigay na mensahe sa ehekutibo, iyon po ang ating kilalanin,” she declared.
Even so, the Palace was careful to keep its distance from the substance of the dispute, insisting the senators themselves are responsible for untangling it. “Unang-una iyong internal problems ng Senado dapat sila muna ang mag-sort out nito. Sila ang mag-settle ng anumang issues kinapapalooban ng Senado,” Castro said.
A separate matter looming over the standoff is the prospect of a special session. President Marcos, according to Castro, is prepared to grant one should the chamber formally ask for it, with the head of state expected to respond without delay once an official request reaches his desk. “Yes, opo, inclined ang Presidente na mag—to give in to the official request for the special session,” she said.
Gatchalian has signaled that senators are weighing such a session to move on bills and appointments that stalled amid the leadership gridlock. Castro indicated the President shares the concern over that backlog, but attached a clear condition to any approval.
“Hindi po nais ng Pangulo na magkaroon ng pag-antala sa trabaho ng Senado,” she said, before noting that a request would still need to stand on solid justification: “Provided lamang po ang official request ay dapat po rin kinapapalooban ng valid grounds for the calling of a special session.”
