No personal congratulatory gesture yet from Cayetano, says Gatchalian

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday said his predecessor, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has yet to personally congratulate him following the recent leadership change in the chamber, stressing that his doors remain open for all.

According to Gatchalian, many of his colleagues, even from the minority, had already reached out to him after he assumed the Senate’s top post during the special session on June 17.

When asked specifically whether he remembers Cayetano congratulating him, Gatchalian replied iin Filipino in an interview with DZMM, “Particularly from Senator Cayetano, none yet.”

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He was quick to note, however, that he was not keeping track of who had and had not sent their greetings.

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“I haven’t seen it yet. I don’t keep count. I don’t have a checklist of who congratulated me and who didn’t,” Gatchalian said.

“My doors and my heart are always open, my door and my office are open to everyone.”

The remark came after he was asked about Cayetano’s continuing public comments on the recent Senate leadership change and his exchanges with Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Gatchalian said he had not seen Cayetano’s recent videos as he had been preoccupied with his first days as Senate president.

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Asked about Cayetano’s continued use of social media to air his views, Gatchalian said “Well, everyone has their own way of communicating. People have different styles and different ways of doing things, depending on what they are comfortable with and what they believe is most effective.”

Prior to the leadership vote, Cayetano publicly conceded and extended his congratulations to whoever the Senate would elect as its next president, adding that he would cooperate with the chamber’s new leader.

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Following the reorganization of the chamber, Cayetano was later elected the minority leader, according to a manifestation made by Sen. Loren Legarda during the Senate’s special session. /gsg

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