Senator Loren Legarda on Saturday asserted that the recent leadership shakeup in the Senate on June 3, which installed new chamber leaders, openly breached both the Philippine Constitution and established Senate guidelines.
In a video message shared on Facebook, Legarda contended that the appointment of a new Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate Secretary, and Sergeant-at-Arms by a faction led by Senator Win Gatchalian carried no legal weight because only 12 lawmakers were present to cast their votes during the plenary session.
“Sa kabila ng aking paggalang sa aking mga kasamahan, labag sa Konstitusyon at alituntunin ng Senado ang nangyaring pagtatalaga ng Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate Secretary at Sergeant-at-Arms dahil labindalawang senador lamang ang nasa plenaryo na bumoto,” Legarda said.
She pointed to Article VI, Section 16(1) of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates that the Senate must elect its leadership through a majority vote of all its sitting members.
Legarda explained that since the Senate consists of 24 elected lawmakers, a true majority demands a minimum of 13 votes.
“Sa mga kapwa ko Pilipino, malinaw na nakasaad sa konstitusyon. Walang sinumang senador ang maaaring lehitimong tumayo bilang Pangulo ng Senado batay lamang sa labindalawang boto,” she said.
The lawmaker also highlighted Rule II, Section 2 of the Senate Rules, which explicitly dictates that the chamber’s officers must be chosen by a majority vote of all members.
She dismissed arguments attempting to justify the sudden reorganization using the Supreme Court ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco, maintaining that the old case cannot be used as a legal shortcut to validate the actions of the Gatchalian bloc.
“1949 pa ang kasong ito [Avelino v. Cuenco] at naganap sa ilalim ng 1945 Constitution. Nagbago na ang ating Saligang Batas. [Ang] 1987 Constitution na ang sumasaklaw sa atin. Dito, malinaw na 13 ang kinakailangang boto para maghalal ng pangulo ng Senado at parehong bilang din ang kinakailangan para sa pagboto ng mga opisyal,” Legarda said.
Last Wednesday, a dozen senators present in the plenary hall voted Gatchalian in as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President during a swift reorganization of the upper chamber.
Despite this development, Legarda firmly maintained that she continues to hold the rightful position of Senate President Pro Tempore.
“Ang Konstitusyon ang gabay ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang dapat nating ipaglaban para sa Senado, para sa ating mga institusyon, at higit sa lahat, para sa bawat Pilipino. Si Loren Legarda po, ang inyong Senate President Pro Tempore,” she said.
The senator cautioned that validating leadership shakeups through intentionally reduced attendance could degrade Senate transitions into a game of which faction can successfully minimize the physical presence of its rivals.
She emphasized that genuine representation, the will of the actual majority, job performance, and critical national concerns should dictate Senate leadership rather than backroom political tactics.
“Dapat manatiling representasyon, interes ng nakararami, performance ng bawat isa at isyu ng panahon ang batayan kung sino ang magiging mayorya at pinuno ng Senado,“ she said.
“Ang konstitusyon, ang gabay ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang dapat nating ipaglaban para sa Senado, para sa ating mga institusyon, at higit sa lahat, para sa bawat Pilipino,” Legarda lamented.