Special session may proceed sans minority bloc, says Gatchalian

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Leaders of Congress welcomed President Marcos’ proclamation on Monday, calling the legislature to a special session this week to tackle urgent measures and pending appointments, which he cited in his pronouncement.

Earlier on Sunday, Sen. Joel Villanueva said he would attend a special session of Congress should Marcos convene one. The attendance of one more senator is seen as crucial to resolving the dispute in the Senate, which Malacañang had asked the upper chamber to settle before the President calls such a session.

Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1318 on June 15, “calling the Congress of the Philippines to a special session” on June 17 to tackle such “priority legislative measures” as the proposed National Center for Geriatric Health and Presidential Merit Scholarship Program, as well as amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Act, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged and Conflict-Affected Areas Schools Act, and the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act.

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READ: Gatchalian urges colleagues to participate in special session

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Also included among these priorities is the proposed antipolitical dynasty law, which may affect the political interests of families in public office including Marcos and his relatives.

“The special session is likewise called to allow the Commission on Appointments (CA) to convene and act on appointments made to the Cabinet, the military, and the foreign service,” the proclamation also noted in part. Analysts have pointed out that these pending appointments have been virtually held hostage by the Senate dispute over its leadership.

READ: Dy on Marcos’ special session call: House ready to act on priority bills

The President cited in his proclamation Section 15, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution which authorizes him to call Congress to hold a special session.

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According to a legal expert, the special session shall only end after bills in its agenda are either passed or defeated by both chambers.

“The President calls a special session but he does not have the power or prerogative to dissolve it. As the Constitution withholds from the President any power to terminate a congressional session, that power is understood to exclusively belong to Congress,” said lawyer Paolo Tamase, associate dean of the University of the Philippines’ College of Law.

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‘Set aside distractions’

In a statement by Malacañang, Marcos said: “The needs of the Filipino people do not pause when Congress is not in session. The government must continue to respond, and the welfare of every Filipino must remain our highest priority.”

“The challenges confronting our people demand urgent action,” the President said, as he also pointed out the families affected by the June 8 Mindanao earthquake, among other sectors needing government assistance.

According to Malacañang, the administration expressed confidence that lawmakers “will set aside political distractions” and focus on passing measures that deliver timely and meaningful support to the Filipino people.

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III as well as acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and his bloc said they welcomed the President’s call for a special session.

“The House of Representatives stands ready to heed the President’s call and continue advancing legislation that directly responds to the needs of our people,” Dy said in a statement.

Malacañang and the House have recognized Gatchalian’s leadership in the Senate after his bloc called a quorum on June 3 following two days of absence by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his bloc.

The Senate presidency, then occupied by Cayetano, was declared vacant along with other key Senate positions. Gatchalian was then elected Senate President Pro Tempore and assumed the Senate leadership in an acting capacity. Cayetano, however, maintains he is the Senate President.

Gatchalian has the backing of 11 senators while Cayetano has 10 colleagues on his side, apart from Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who continues to hide from authorities enforcing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who was arrested on June 1 on plunder and graft charges.

Another lawmaker from Cayetano’s side, Sen. Francis Escudero, attended the June 3 session that enabled the Gatchalian bloc to establish a quorum, while Sen. Joel Villanueva, also from the Cayetano bloc, said on June 14 that he would attend a special session called by the President.

Villanueva also cited the need to pass pending measures and act on appointments awaiting confirmation by the CA, including those in…