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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Orderly Senate: Marcos hopes upper chamber goes 'back to normal' under Gatchalian

Orderly Senate: Marcos hopes upper chamber goes 'back to normal' under Gatchalian

Published Jun 19, 2026 02:19 pm
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledges Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian during the Philippines' 128th Independence Day rites at Rizal Park on June 12, reinforcing Malacañang's recognition of Gatchalian's leadership amid the ongoing Senate leadership dispute. (RTVM screengrab)
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledges Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian during the Philippines' 128th Independence Day rites at Rizal Park on June 12, reinforcing Malacañang's recognition of Gatchalian's leadership amid the ongoing Senate leadership dispute. (RTVM screengrab)
An orderly Senate that tackles priority measures is "exactly what we have been hoping for," President Marcos said.
"Well, that is exactly what we have been all hoping for, that things become more orderly, na maging maayos ang takbo ng Senado (that Senate runs smoothly)," Marcos stated in an interview in Russia before he returned to the country.
He expressed hope that under the leadership of Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, the Senate will go back to normal.
"Sana naman, sa paglagay ni Senator Sherwin bilang SP ay mabalik naman tayo sa normal na patakbo ng senado (Hopefully, with Senator Sherwin taking the position of Senate President, we can return to the normal functioning of the Senate)," Marcos said.
"And that they can take care of the business of government, the business of legislation, and all these necessary legislation that we listed to show that are priority," he added.
The President made the statement after a special Senate session was convened on Wednesday, June 17, following the upper chamber's failure to hold a session for several days due to the absence of other senators.
On June 15, Marcos called Congress to a special session to urgently act on priority legislative measures aimed at strengthening social protection, expanding access to education and healthcare, and providing greater support to vulnerable Filipinos amid ongoing energy challenges and recent natural disasters.
The Chief Executive pointed out that the special session was key to finally act on the priority bills identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) early this year.
"Lahat doon, tapos na sa House. So, kailangan kunin na ng senado para maipasa na, para maging batas (All of this has already been completed in the House. So, the Senate just needs to take it up and pass it so it can become law)," Marcos stressed.
"And that’s – that was what we were very worried about," he added.
Marcos also said that all of the urgent matters that needed to be act upon, especially amid the oil crisis, were halted due to the "disarray" in the Senate.
"And of course, the appointments, of course, for DFA, the appointments of generals. All of those were just came to a dead stop noong nagkakagulo (when chaos happened)," Marcos said.
"Noong hindi pumapasok yung mga senador. Hindi sila nagse-session (When the Senators were not coming to work. They are not holding sessions). You all know, I don’t need to go through that. Alam ng lahat ng tao kung ano yung nangyari (Everyone knows what happened)," Marcos added.
This was not the first time the President expressed his frustration over the incidents in the Senate since last month.
Early this month, he said the events that unfolded in the Senate have thrown the chamber and its leadership into disarray, prompting him to call for the resumption of work in the upper chamber.
"I’m afraid all these events that we have been witnessing have thrown the Senate and its leadership, the whole Senate, into disarray. It has discredited the leadership, and it has stopped the essential business of legislation in government," Marcos said last June 3.

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President Marcos Senate Presidency Sherwin Gatchalian Priority Bills Special Session
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