Manila: Malaca±ang on Monday rejected a proposal by former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano for an interim leadership arrangement in the Senate, reiterating that the Executive branch recognizes acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian as the chamber's legitimate leader. During a Palace press briefing, Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that an arrangement involving dual signatories and joint certifications for Senate transactions would only create further complications and uncertainty.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cayetano's camp is reportedly pushing for possible interim administrative arrangements with the new Senate majority group led by Gatchalian. Among the proposals is the adoption of a 'dual-signatory or joint certification mechanism for vouchers, checks, disbursements, contracts, personnel actions, and other documents necessary for the continued operations of the Senate and the Impeachment Court.'
Sherwin Gatchalian was elected acting Senate president last week, a leadership change that came amid days of turmoil in the Senate following the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and the subsequent absence of members of the former majority bloc that resulted in the cancellation of sessions. Cayetano has criticized the leadership change as an 'illegal coup d'etat' and has refused to acknowledge the authority of the new Senate majority bloc.
Castro warned that such a setup could mirror past political agreements that later became controversial. She referenced a previous situation in the House of Representatives, where a term-sharing agreement involving Cayetano was not promptly honored. The Palace official highlighted the importance of maintaining clear and consistent leadership to avoid similar issues.
Malaca±ang has repeatedly maintained that the election of Gatchalian as acting Senate president was consistent with existing jurisprudence, including the Avelino-Cuenco doctrine, and with precedents previously applied by the Senate. Castro reiterated that the Executive would continue dealing only with Gatchalian on matters involving Senate leadership and official communications.
