Sen. Robin Padilla Speaks amid Ongoing Leadership Issue in Senate
ROBIN PADILLA – The Senator called on his fellow senators to remember that the Senate is owned by the Filipino people especially the civilians.
The June 3 Senate plenary session has undeniably drew a thick line between the ‘new majority’ and the ‘new minority’ blocs in the chamber. Twelve (12) senators voted to declare all positions in the Senate vacant amid the absence of 10 other lawmakers.
The then-majority bloc was absent in three Senate plenary sessions. According to the then-minority senators, they were supposedly on the edge of committing a violation against Constitution.
On the third day of the absence of the then-majority bloc, one of their members, Sen. Chiz Escudero, arrived at the Senate plenary session which led them a quorum of 12. They resumed the Senate plenary session.
During the June 3 Senate plenary session, the senators voted to declare all Senate positions vacant and they elected Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as the Senate President Pro Tempore. The turn of events came after their call to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano to resign from the Senate presidency on the second day of their bloc’s absence at the session.
Amid their absence then, Cayetano claimed that they were protecting the committee leaderships so they can push through with the flood control hearing. Despite the supposed change in leadership, they continued with the investigation but it sparked many questions on the veracity of the claims of the “18 ex-marines”.
Senators Robin Padilla and Pia Cayetano were among those who led the entrance of the 18 ex-marines to the Senate. The “Blue Ribbon hearing” was held despite the supposed change in the committee chairmanships prior to it during the June 3 Senate plenary session which had the following committee leads:
- Finance: Sen. JV Ejercito
- National Defense and Security: Sen. Tito Sotto
- Public Order and Dangerous Drugs: Sen. Ping Lacson
- Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon Committee): Sen. Erwin Tulfo
- Public Services: Sen. Raffy Tulfo
- Basic Education: Sen. Bam Aquino
- Agriculture: Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
- Health and Demography: Sen. Risa Hontiveros
- Games and Amusement: Sen. Lito Lapid
- Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlements: Sen. Chiz Escudero
- Foreign Relations: Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri
Recently, Sen. Robin Padilla made a call to his fellow senators amid the ongoing issues in the Senate. based on News5, the now ‘minority Senator’ reminded his colleagues to remember who owns the chamber.
“Mga kasamang senador, ‘wag niyo sanang kalimutan na pag-aari ng mga Pilipino, lalo ng mga sibilyan, ang Senado,” Padilla said.
Based on the post, it is still unsure if the ‘now minority bloc’ wherein Sen. Robin Padilla belongs will attend the special session set by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with the senators.