The minority bloc of 11 senators has cemented its non-negotiable position ahead of any coalition talks with the majority—Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian must be the next Senate President.
“Si Senator Sherwin ang aming itatalaga na Senate President. At least, in the meantime, or for the meantime na merong kaguluhan sa Senado. Kasi sa aming pananaw, si Senator Sherwin ang pwedeng maging acceptable hindi lamang sa aming minority group of 11, kundi sa ilang senador sa majority sa ngayon,” Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said in an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday.
Lacson said the minority bloc believes Gatchalian is uniquely positioned to unify the Senate across political lines, describing him as the “Solomonic solution” that both camps could accept.
“Alam namin qualified si Senator Sherwin. Alam namin na kaya niyang dalhin ang Senado doon sa magkakaisa, magkakaroon ng united front against all the issues na bumabalot sa Senado ngayon,” he said.
The senator said every conversation within the minority bloc, regardless of where it starts, inevitably returns to the same conclusion—that rebuilding the Senate’s dignity and integrity requires new leadership, and that Gatchalian is their answer.
“‘Yun ang laging highlight ng usapan namin. Kahit saan mapunta ‘yung aming conversation, mauuwi kami doon sa kailangan itindig natin, ibangon natin ‘yung integridad, ‘yung dignidad, ‘yung reputation ng Senado kasi talagang napakababa sa ngayon,” Lacson said.
Lacson also flatly rejected claims circulating in political circles that the minority’s push for a leadership change is connected to a move toward a Constituent Assembly.
“‘Yung nagpapalabas sila ng tungkol sa Con-Ass kaya raw gustong magkaroon ng change ng leadership dahil papunta kaming Con-Ass, just BS ‘yun. Hindi totoo ‘yun. Hindi namin napag-usapan ‘yun. Sa dami ng caucuses naming minority, wala kaming pinag-uusapan tungkol sa Con-Ass,” he said.
The senator laid out a precise political scenario that underscores the fragility of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s current 12-11 hold.
The count is made precarious by the fact that dela Rosa—who cast the 13th and deciding vote that installed Cayetano as Senate President on May 11—has since gone into hiding after slipping out of the Senate in the early hours of May 14 following the shooting incident, leaving the majority effectively one vote short of its original strength.
If just one senator from the majority crosses over, the minority becomes the de facto majority on the floor—effectively paralyzing Cayetano’s presidency even without formally replacing him.
“Isa lang ‘yung tumawid, kami na ‘yung masusunod sa floor, ‘yung new majority. Kasi majority ‘yung numero, 12 against 11. Sa pagpili pa lamang ng chairman o chairpersons ng mga committee, ang masusunod ‘yung new majority,” he said.
He said if two senators cross over, the Senate presidency itself changes hands—making the current Senate majority’s position precarious at best.
“Kung dalawa ‘yung tatawid, of course, palitan ng Senate President. Pero isa lang ‘yung makatawid, ang ibig sabihin noon parang virtual Senate President ‘yung Minority Leader. Kasi lahat ng motions, at least sa mga major issues na magkakaisa ‘yung members sa majority bloc at saka ‘pag chair ng mga committees, mapupunta sa mga majority bloc na hindi galing sa Senate President,” Lacson said.
When asked what would ultimately break the current standoff, Lacson expressed cautious hope that conscience—and a genuine desire to restore the Senate’s reputation—would eventually move senators on both sides to reconsider their positions.
“Baka sakaling bagong leader, fresh blood si Senator Sherwin, baka naman sakaling umangat ‘yung integridad, ‘yung dignidad ng Senado,” he said.
