MALACANANG has formally rejected the proposal put forward by former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano for an interim leadership arrangement meant to resolve the ongoing leadership dispute in the Senate.
During a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reiterated that the Executive branch recognizes only Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian as the legitimate leader of the chamber. According to Castro, such a dual or temporary setup would serve no beneficial purpose at this time and would only create further confusion in official transactions and governance.
Cayetano’s camp had been pushing for what they called “interim administrative arrangements” with the new majority bloc led by Gatchalian. Among their suggestions was the adoption of a dual‑signatory or joint certification mechanism for vouchers, checks, disbursements, contracts, personnel actions, and other essential documents required for the daily operations of the Senate and the Impeachment Court. The proposal was intended to ensure continuity amid the split in leadership, but the Palace made it clear that it does not support any arrangement that undermines the authority of the leadership it already acknowledges.
The leadership change took place on June 3, when Senator Chiz Escudero joined the so‑called Solid Bloc, increasing its number from 11 to 12 members and giving the group the required quorum to reorganize. Following this shift, Gatchalian was elected Senate President Pro Tempore and designated as Acting Senate President. Cayetano, however, has refused to recognize the move, describing it as an “illegal coup d’état” that disregards the Constitution. He insisted that the reorganization was invalid and warned the public of its consequences during a Facebook Live broadcast shortly after the session.
Castro also warned that Cayetano’s proposed arrangement mirrors past political agreements that eventually turned controversial and problematic. She specifically cited the broken term‑sharing deal for House Speaker between Cayetano and former Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, where the agreed turnover of leadership was not honored. The Palace official emphasized that Gatchalian’s election aligns with established jurisprudence — including the Avelino‑Cuenco doctrine — and long‑standing precedents within the Senate. For all official matters and communications, Castro stated, the Executive Department will only transact and coordinate with Gatchalian as the recognized head of the Senate.
