EDITORIAL - Ending a gridlock

After playing truant for two days, Alan Peter Cayetano led five other members of his bloc in finally showing up at the Senate yesterday, to assert their two-week-old positions in the chamber.

This was after the former 11-member minority gained a 12th member, Francis Escudero, to obtain a majority based on a Supreme Court ruling plus a quorum to finally end the paralysis in the chamber.

Cayetano and his bloc are challenging the basis for the moves of the 12. Yesterday, some of the members of his group barged their way past Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to enter the Senate and conduct what the 12-member bloc described as a “bogus” Blue Ribbon hearing.

During this activity, 18 former soldiers reiterated what they had previously claimed in a press conference – that payoffs were made to President Marcos, his son Sandro and cousin Martin Romualdez as well as former senator Antonio Trillanes and even the International Criminal Court.

This time, the 18 also included in their accusations two of the 12-member bloc – Senators Tito Sotto and Erwin Tulfo, who both described the story as preposterous – as well as several members of the House justice committee and prosecution team in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

At this point, a nation tired of derailed legislative work and lawmakers not working but receiving full pay – one of them for seven months now – welcomes the end of the impasse.

Malacañang and the House of Representatives, which was not consulted when the Cayetano-led bloc decided to cancel the Senate session for two days, have both recognized the election of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as president pro tempore and acting Senate chief or presiding officer.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines also issued a statement yesterday, saying the quorum of 12 behind the election of Gatchalian was “lawful and valid.”

President Marcos may have to do something more to end the Senate gridlock, upon the request of the legislature, and get Congress work going. He can call a special session of the two chambers, to push urgent legislation.

The nation faces multiple urgent problems and cannot afford to be held hostage by gridlocks driven by partisan concerns.