‘I’ll talk to everyone’: Gatchalian open to dialogue with Cayetano camp

MANILA, Philippines — Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian stated on Sunday that he is willing to dialogue with Sen. Alan Cayetano’s camp to resolve the ongoing Senate leadership impasse.

In a radio dzBB interview, Gatchalian recalled his previous statements about being willing to speak with any senator, regardless of whether they belong to the majority or minority blocs. He noted that he has long-standing personal friendships with many members of the minority.

“That’s why I’m open. And I know even Senator Alan also wants good things for our country,” he added.

In a Facebook livestream on Saturday, Cayetano invited Gatchalian to a meeting, saying he was offering a solution to settle who between them is the “true Senate president.”

“I’ll offer you a solution, Senator Win. Let’s have a meeting. I have a solution in mind. It is difficult to find a solution regarding who the true Senate president is because the three books I hold say that the legitimate Senate president is the one elected by the 13 [senators],” Cayetano said, referring to the books on the Philippine Constitution, the Rules of the Senate, and the Bible.

READ: Gatchalian-led bloc: Blue Ribbon hearing ‘unofficial, unauthorized’

The Senate leadership tussle is between the new 12-member majority led by Gatchalian, who was also elected Senate President Pro Tempore during the leadership shakeup on June 3, and the 10-member minority led by Cayetano.

No Senate president, however, has been elected, as the 1987 Constitution requires at least 13 votes to install a senator to the post.

The Gatchalian group has called on Cayetano, who insists that he is the “legal, legitimate and moral” Senate leader, to resign.

READ: Gatchalian yet to ask Marcos for special Senate session

Asked how the meeting could proceed if both had invitations to each other, Gatchalian said they would probably settle it between themselves.

“Maybe we’ll just talk about how to make it happen. Anyway, we know each other, and we’ve known each other for a long time, so we’ll just find a way,” he said.

READ: Gatchalian acting Senate president as Escudero ends deadlock

Gatchalian: Let’s go back to work

Cayetano, in his video address, also warned Gatchalian not to allow himself to be used by Malacañang and the other members of his bloc.

“No one is allowing himself to be used by anybody. In fact, my colleagues in the majority are engaged in consensus-building. We talk to each other. They give advice, and I ask for advice. There is no monopoly on intelligence and talent. It is important to help each other, and that is what is good about the majority—we help each other,” Gatchalian said in response.

“So our consensus is that we go back to work. You can see it in our statements. It has been a long time since we have been able to talk about what we should do for our country,” he added.

Asked about the possibility of more senators transferring to the new majority group so the leadership issue could finally be resolved, Gatchalian said, “I can’t say that now.”

“We hope there is, that we have more colleagues, because I know we all want to work. That’s our hope and prayer,” he added. /mcm

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