Villanueva to attend special session: This is not the time to take sides

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Joel Villanueva on Sunday announced that he would attend a special session of Congress that may be called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — a venue that some say could be used to resolve the leadership row in the Senate.

In a video message to his family in the Jesus Is Lord Church, Villanueva talked about the ongoing wrangling in the upper chamber, which he said has not only affected the institution but specially its employees.

“We can’t keep fighting all the time. As public servants, our priority is to ensure that the Senate continues to work for you,” he said.

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READ: All 22 senators must attend special session, end leadership row – expert

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“In the event that a special session is called, we will fulfill our sacred duty under our Constitution. We will be there,”  he stressed.

The possibility of holding a special session has been floated, following the Senate’s failure to settle the leadership row before it adjourned sine die on June 6.

Villanueva traced the conflict to the disputes over the chamber’s leadership, which happened twice in less than one month.

First, when Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto  III  was ousted as Senate president and replaced by  Sen. Alan Peter  Cayetano on May 11.  And second, when a motion to declare all seats vacant was adopted during the last session day on June 3, following an alleged boycott by the Cayetano bloc.

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READ: Senate finally convenes amid alleged Cayetano-led group’s boycott

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who was identified with Cayetano’s group, provided a quorum at that time.

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Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was subsequently installed as Senate president pro tempore and has since taken Cayetano’s role, despite the latter’s assertion that he remains the leader of the chamber until the 13 votes needed to replace him are reached.

So far, the new Senate majority led by Gatchalian has 12 members, including Escudero. Some news reports, however, indicate that Villanueva could provide the crucial vote for Cayetano’s replacement.

“In the midst of various issues surrounding the Senate and the country’s problems, our people are asking: whose side are we on?” he said in the same video message.

“Some have been circulating various social media posts and speculations about us, and it seems we are being deliberately placed between two clashing forces,” he said.

“This is not the time to take sides,” the senator later stressed, noting other pressing issues facing the country and its people.

If a special session of Congress is called, Villanueva said he would file a resolution to ensure that there is sufficient funding for the relief, rehabilitation, and recovery in areas hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Mindanao.

READ: Magnitude 7.8 earthquake leaves 35 dead, 200 injured in Mindanao

He also vowed to push for the passage of measures that are already in final and third readings, and to act on pending confirmations of military officers, who were affected by the Senate leadership conflict.

“From then until now, it has been very clear to us why we are here as public servants. It is clear to us why God has placed us in this position. It is our duty to protect our institution and prioritize the welfare of our fellow citizens,” Villanueva said. /das

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