Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President Win Gatchalian on Tuesday defended the legality of the chamber’s recent leadership reorganization, pointing to official legislative history to prove that a 12-member quorum is valid.
Gatchalian’s statements were a direct response to unseated Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies, who continue to denounce the leadership transition as an “illegal” takeover that violates the Constitution.
“Hindi natin pwedeng baguhin ang kasaysayan,” Gatchalian said in a press statement.
“Ang Senate records mismo ang nagpapatunay na hindi na bago ang nangyaring sesyon noong June 3 at ito ay lehitimo,” he added.
Citing official legislative journals, Gatchalian argued that the Senate has repeatedly recognized a quorum with only 12 members present.
He highlighted historical precedents from May 21, 2008, and February 11, 2009, which occurred after Senator Alfredo Lim resigned to become Manila mayor and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was detained.
According to congressional records, similar 12-member quorums were also acknowledged on September 29, 2010—after Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III vacated his seat for the presidency—as well as during several sessions in May 2012, mid-2015, and May 2020.
The leadership dispute began during the June 3 session when Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero arrived at the plenary to provide the decisive 12th vote. His attendance enabled the chamber to resume its session after Cayetano’s bloc walked out, a move that had briefly paralyzed legislative operations just before the adjournment of the 20th Congress.
Once the 12-member quorum was established, lawmakers voted to declare all leadership posts vacant, leading to Gatchalian’s election as Senate president pro tempore and acting presiding officer.
Despite the vote, Cayetano has refused to step down, maintaining that he remains the rightful leader of the upper chamber.