Senator Joel Villanueva on Sunday expressed his readiness to attend a special congressional session if officially called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., urging his colleagues to move past an ongoing leadership dispute to resume the upper chamber’s work.
Speaking during a service at the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church, Villanueva raised concerns over the legislative gridlock and its impact on Senate personnel who are caught in the crossfire of the political power struggle.
“The Senate staff should not be caught in the middle of the fight. Hindi pwedeng puro away na lang. Bilang mga lingkod bayan prayoridad po dapat natin ang siguruhin na patuloy na nagtatrabaho ang bawat isa sa atin. Lalo na ang Senado para po sa ating mga kababayan,” he stated.
Confirming his attendance should an emergency session be convened, Villanueva added:
“Sa pagkakataon po na magkaroon ng special session tutuparin po natin ang ating sagradong tungkulin sa ilalim ng ating Saligang Batas. We will be there.”
The calls for a special session were initiated by the camp of Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian after the chamber adjourned sine die on June 6 without resolving its internal leadership impasse.
Key military and diplomatic appointments remain unconfirmed following the ouster of Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, which triggered a boycott from the bloc of embattled Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
While 12 lawmakers previously designated Cayetano as the acting leader—a move recognized by Malacañang and the House of Representatives—recent sessions only pushed through after Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero helped establish a quorum for Gatchalian’s faction.
Villanueva pressed his fellow lawmakers to set aside partisanship, pointing to the urgent need for government action following a recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao.
“My fellow workers in the Lord’s vineyard, this is not a time for partisanship. When we have a fellow citizen in need, it is our duty to respond and serve. Then and until now, it is clear to us. It is very clear to us the reason why we are here as public servants. It is clear to us why God brought us to this position,” he said.
The lawmaker concluded by reaffirming his dedication to his public mandate and the stability of the legislative body.
“It is our duty to protect our institution and prioritize the welfare of our fellow citizens. Above all, we will continue to stand for God and for the people.”