Sherwin Gatchalian says he's hurt, insulted by online memes

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said he was also hurt, offended and insulted by memes circulating online about him sitting beside presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero during the impeachment trial of  Vice President Sara Duterte.

Voting 12-8 before the trial began on July 6, the impeachment court elected Escudero as its presiding officer in accordance with the amended rules, which allowed other senators, other than the Senate president, to preside over the trial.

READ: Escudero to preside over Duterte impeachment trial

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Since then, Gatchalian has been the subject  of memes online as he shares the podium with Escudero during the proceedings.

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Asked in a radio interview on Thursday how he feels about it, the Senate chief answered: “Of course, it hurts.”

“We’re only human. We get offended, insulted, and hurt. But that’s just the nature of social media. We’re simply doing our job and carrying out our responsibilities,” he added over DZRH’s Dos Por Dos program.

Gatchalian, though, explained that under the rules, the Senate president retains general supervision over the impeachment proceedings.

“That means it remains the Senate President’s responsibility to ensure that the Senate proceedings are conducted properly and in an orderly manner,” he pointed out.

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The Senate rules, he said, also retain certain powers to the chamber’s head  in connection with the impeachment proceedings.

“Let me give you a concrete example,” he said. “Under our Senate rules, the Senate president still has control over the sergeant-at-arms. So, if a disturbance were to break out during the impeachment trial or in the plenary, it would be the Senate president who would instruct the sergeant-at-arms to restore order.”

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Although the presiding officer may also issue such an order, it should be in consultation with the Senate or the Senate president, Gatchalian said.

He likened this setup to the impeachment  trial of then President  Joseph Estrada.

While former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. presided over the trial, Gatchalian said it was then Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., who had control over the sergeant-at-arms.

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Davide and Pimentel also shared the podium during that time. /mr