Palace to Senate: Shape up

MANILA, Philippines —  As tension gripped the Senate over a leadership row and the resumption of a hearing on the flood control scam, Malacañang called on the chamber to “shape up” as it denied that President Marcos had benefited from corruption and had a hand in the political drama unfolding in the chamber.

Reacting to the shoving incident before the flood control scandal hearing, Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Marcos administration did not attempt to prevent resource persons from attending the inquiry, which was conducted by allies of Sen. Alan Cayetano.

“It’s not the job of the President to bar anyone (from attending Senate hearings) so do not give such an impression,” Castro said at a press briefing yesterday.

Asked for her message to the Senate, Castro replied: “Shape up.”

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla denied blocking Senators Robinhood Padilla and Pia Cayetano from entering the Senate’s session hall.

Although 12 senators elected Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as acting Senate president last Wednesday, Cayetano and his allies view it as illegal and decided to push through with a hearing on the flood control scam without the blessing of the new leadership.

The Palace press officer acknowledged that the tiff in the Senate could affect the messaging of Marcos’ fifth State of the Nation Address, but gave assurance that the President remains focused on his objectives and his priorities.

“This is a problem only of the Senate. So, whoever is in authority should act. Now, we are saying that we recognize the leadership of acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian,” she said.

Castro justified the administration’s decision to recognize Gatchalian’s leadership, saying his election was in line with existing jurisprudence, particularly the court’s decision on Avelino versus Cuenco in 1949.

She noted that the ruling recognized 17 as the base number for the Senate since four of its members were abroad while three were detained.

Futile

A law professor from Ateneo de Manila yesterday said that the action of the camp of Senator Cayetano is “a futile exercise, and will collapse sooner or later,” after he maintained that he is still the Senate president.

In an interview with ANC, lawyer Mel Sta. Maria added that what is happening in the Senate is not a constitutional crisis.

“When you say constitutional crisis, two powers collide. But in this particular case, one has no more power, the other has power. So it just creates a political illusion, a legal cloud of doubt when there is none. Why? There is a majority, they have already attained the three most important aspects of credibility and legitimacy,” Sta. Maria said. –  Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso, Ghio Ong