Sen. Pia Cayetano Cites “13 Senators” Voted for New Senate Leadership
PIA CAYETANO – The lady Senator was asked if she will support the new leadership in the Senate which is now led by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.
Today, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano conceded as the Senate president ahead of the session in the upper chamber this morning. Through a statement on social media, the former Senate President said the Gatchalian bloc will have the numbers to elect a new chief.
Sen. Joel Villanueva joined the Senate’s new majority bloc. According to former Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano, he is not bothered by the loss of the position and he will continue to fight for the truth for the Filipino people.
“I will be honest about what I feel. I am not saddened by the loss of a position; a position that was never mine to keep. What saddens me is harder to say. It is to watch our country slip toward darkness — to see our people suffer, and to hear some begin to say there is no hope. Walang pag-asa. Paulit-ulit na lang ang korapsyon. Pare-pareho lang sila,” Cayetano said.
This morning, Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian was officially elected as the chamber’s chief with the votes of 13 senators from the majority bloc. Sen. Tito Sotto is the new Senate President Pro Tempore and the Floor majority leader is Sen. Migz Zubiri.
The recent developments came after the controversial change of Senate leadership last June 3 when 12 senators declared all positions in the chamber vacant. Then, senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, and Loren Legarda from the minority bloc said 13 votes should have been needed to remove and elect new Senate officials.
Recently, following the election of Senate Pres. Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Pia Cayetano, the elder sister of former Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano, was asked if she will support the new Senate leadership. Based on ABS-CBN News, she stressed that there were 13 votes for the new leadership in the chamber.
Sen. Pia Cayetano claimed that they have no problem as long as the rules and the Constitution are being followed. During the interview with the media, she mentioned that it is “common sense” that 13 votes are needed.
“May 13 ’di ba? Common sense, ’di ba? What’s in the rules? What’s in the Constitution? When you have 13, ’yun lang. Pag hindi sumunod sa rules, du’n lang naman kami may problema. Pero pag sumunod sa Constitution at sa rules, no problem,” Cayetano said based on the post.
Previously, Sen. Pia Cayetano was one of those who criticized the 12-senator quorum that removed all the Senate officials and elected then-Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian. Now-Senate President Pro Tempore Tito Sotto previously explained ‘how 13 becomes 12’.