The Philippine Senate convened a special session on Wednesday, June 17, to address pending legislation and appointments as Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano conceded that the bloc led by acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian now has the numbers to elect a new leader.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation No. 1318 on June 15 calling Congress into session to tackle priority bills and confirm appointments stalled by the leadership row. The session began at 9 a.m. with separate meetings in the Senate in Pasay City and the House of Representatives in Quezon City.
Cayetano stated in a June 17 post that after speaking with Sen. Joel Villanueva, the opposing side would soon have sufficient votes. “I will not stand in the way of that vote,” he said, adding that he remains honored to serve as a public servant.
The Philippine National Police deployed officers to both chambers and urged the public to keep protests peaceful. Gatchalian’s bloc gained control on June 3 after Sen. Francis Escudero joined, completing a quorum and ousting Cayetano, who maintains the change lacked proper procedure.
