Marcos May Call Special Session Of Congress

President Marcos is ready to call for a special session of Congress to pass priority measures, derailed by the ongoing political ruckus and leadership row in the Senate.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos would “act immediately” on an official request by the new Senate leadership for a special session.

“Yes, the President is inclined to give in to the official request for the special session. Why? If many (bills) are disrupted because of such developments, the President would not want the work of the Senate to be disrupted,” Castro told a press briefing at Malacañang on Thursday, June 4.

She said the bill prohibiting political dynasties is one of the measures the President wants to see passed. Marcos had also called for the passage of a supplemental budget to fund programs aimed at helping sectors hit by the impact of the Middle East conflict.

Earlier, acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, who was installed to the leadership by his allies last Wednesday, June 3, said senators are considering holding a special session to tackle pending bills and appointments affected by the leadership dispute in the chamber.

He noted that three session days were lost because of the political discord in the Senate, which saw two dramatic leadership changes in less than a month.

Castro said it would be up to the senators to sort out their internal problems.

“But as far as the Palace is concerned, we recognize the leadership of acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. So, whatever message he will give to the executive, we will recognize it,” the Palace press officer said.

Gatchalian was elected acting Senate president and Senate president pro tempore by his allies last Wednesday, but it is being contested by the bloc led by Sen. Alan Cayetano, who assumed leadership of the chamber through a coup staged by 13 senators last May 11.

However, Cayetano’s majority lost two members as Sen. Ronald dela Rosa went into hiding due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court while Sen. Jinggoy was detained on plunder charges.

With 11-11 members, the decision of Sen. Francis Escudero to attend the session with the minority on Wednesday broke the stalemate as Cayetano’s group boycotted the sessions since Monday, June 1.

Hours before Gatchalian’s election, Marcos said the Senate was in “disarray” and called on senators to “get back to work” as they need to pass several vital bills.

“The two other departments continue to work. The executive continues to work. The judiciary continues to work... Why does the legislature decide to stop working? I don’t understand that,” Marcos said.