GATCHALIAN ELECTED AS ACTING SENATE PRESIDENT

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday was elected as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President following a two-day impasse.

His appointment came before the Senate adjourned sine die after electing a new set of officers and committee chairpersons.

With the arrival of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero from the majority bloc, a quorum was declared.

Senator Vicente Sotto III moved to declare all elected positions in the Senate vacant.

The Senate then elected Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri as chairperson of the Committee on Rules, Renato Bantug Jr. as Senate Secretary, and retired Police Maj. Gen. Alfredo Sotto Corpuz as Sergeant-at-Arms.

Elected as new committee chairpersons were  Sen. JV Ejercito for Finance; Sotto for National Defense; Senator Panfilo Lacson for Public Order and Accounts panels; Sen. Erwin Tulfo for Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations or the Blue Ribbon Committee, and Social Welfare and Rural Development; Sen. Raffy Tulfo for Public Services; Sen. Bam Aquino for Basic Education; Sen. Francis Pangilinan for Agriculture; Sen. Risa Hontiveros for Health; Sen. Lito Lapid for Games and Amusement; Escudero for Housing; and Zubiri for Foreign Relations.

The Senate impasse began after members of the majority bloc headed by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano “boycotted” plenary sessions, leaving the chamber without the required quorum.

Members of the majority bloc “boycotted” sessions following the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.