Gatchalian takes over Senate Presidency; Cayetano ousted — ABS-CBN News

[0:00] Pursuant to Proclamation 1318, issued by President Ferdinand Romaldes Marcos Jr., [0:09] the first session of the Senate, in the first special session of the 20th Congress, is hereby bold to order. [0:19] Let us pause for a minute of silent prayer. Amen. [0:37] The Secretary will please call the roll. [0:39] Donovan Sen. Aquino, Sen. Cayetano Alan, Sen. Cayetano Pia, Sen. De La Rosa, Sen. Ejercito, Sen. Escudero, Sen. Estrada, Sen. Go, Sen. Andiveros, Sen. Lacson, Sen. Lapid, Sen. Ligarda, Sen. Marcoleta, Sen. Marcos, Sen. Padilla, Sen. Pangilinan, Sen. Soco III, Sen. Tulfo Irwin, Sen. Tulfo Rafi, [1:12] Sen. Villanueva, Sen. Villar-Kabil, Sen. Villar-Marc, Sen. Zubiri, Sen. President Potempo Egelchaliano. [1:22] With 13 Senators present, the Chair declares a quorum. Majority Leader. [1:28] Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I move that we proceed with the election of the Senate President. [1:34] Is there any objection? Hearing none, the election of the Senate President is now in order. [1:41] Mr. President, I move to, if I may be able to be recognized, to nominate our Senate President. [1:47] Yes, we recognize the Majority Leader. [1:48] Mr. President, I rise today to nominate Senate President Potemp Sherwin Gachaliano as the President of the Senate of the Philippines. [1:58] Throughout his public service career as member of the House of Representatives, as Mayor of Valenzuela City, and as Senator, [2:05] he has consistently proven his competence, his effective leadership, and his unparalleled work ethic. [2:11] Siya nga po palagi ay nagsasara ng Senado, staying late in his office, even after adjournment. [2:18] As a matter of fact, Mr. President, I hear complaints from your staff that hindi na po sila nakaka-uwi ng disenting oras. [2:31] Dahil overworked daw sila, overworked. [2:33] At palagi nila tinatanong sa akin, kailan ko daw siyang mahahanap ng girlfriend para maka-uwi daw ng mas maaga. [2:40] Kaya, Mr. President, ikaw nga po daw ang sinasabi niya na nagsasara ng Senado. [2:48] Na wala na pong staff, ikaw na lang po naiiwan. [2:52] And that just shows your dedication, Mr. President, on how hardworking you are in preparing for the days ahead. [3:01] He has ably led some of our most demanding and time-consuming and consequential committees, [3:06] namely the Committee on Energy, the Committee on Economic Affairs, the Committee on Basic Education, [3:12] and most notably, the Committee on Finance. [3:16] As Finance Chair, he had navigated the very challenging periods in the wake of flood control scams coming into life. [3:24] But he led the Finance Committee with great resolve, spearheading unprecedented initiatives [3:29] to ensure accountability and transparency in the national budget. [3:33] I believe that this last budget, my dear colleagues, was one of the most transparent in recent history. [3:43] As a matter of fact, whatever projects that we wanted to insert or amend into the budget, [3:49] we had to come up with voluminous requirements and documents [3:52] coming from the agencies themselves and the receiving bodies like the LGUs. [3:58] And that was the request, not just the request, it was the demand of then Finance Chair Wiengachalian. [4:05] He's the leader that the Senate needs in this time with vision and disarray. [4:10] And he has done this before. [4:12] I know he'll be able to rise above the fray and lead us back to our principal function, [4:17] which is to attend to the work of legislation. [4:21] I have every confidence that as Senate President, [4:24] he'll be able to set the institution back on the right path, [4:26] guided by the highest standards of service, integrity, and morality. [4:32] To my colleagues, I plead, [4:35] let us elect Senate President Gachalian, [4:38] and let us get back to our work in this hallowed institution. [4:44] Maraming salamat po, Mr. President. [4:46] And maybe we don't need to put it to a vote, Mr. President. [4:50] Maybe we can do it by acclimation, Mr. President. [4:53] I A's and A's would be, I assume. [4:57] So, um... [4:59] And I move to close. [5:00] No other, there are no other nominees for Senate President. [5:04] I move to close up here. [5:05] Thank you. [5:06] Any objection? [5:07] Hailing na, the nominations are closed. [5:11] Therefore, Mr. President, I'd like to congratulate. [5:14] He, um... [5:16] As you said, to vote as an acclimation. [5:22] All those in favor of Senator Sherwin Gachalian, [5:24] Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines, [5:27] say aye. [5:28] Aye. [5:30] All those again, say nay. [5:33] The aye's heaven. [5:34] Senator Sherwin Gachalian is declared [5:36] Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines. [5:40] May we ask Senator Gachalian to, uh... [5:45] Before that, Senator Francis McRinan is recognized. [5:47] Yes, just for the record that the vote, uh... [5:50] Having a quorum, uh... [5:51] It's unanimous, Mr. President. [5:54] Thank you. [5:54] We placed that on record. [5:56] May we ask Senator Sherwin Gachalian to ascend to the restroom, [6:01] to take his oath as Senate President. [6:03] Thank you. [6:16] Thank you. [6:16] Thank you. [6:21] Thank you. [6:25] Thank you. [6:30] Thank you. [6:32] Thank you. [7:08] Thank you. [7:40] Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. [7:46] I, state your name. [7:47] I, Sherwin Gachalian, [7:49] having been elected to the position of Senate President, [7:52] having been elected to the position of Senate President, [7:54] to hereby solemnly swear, [7:56] to hereby solemnly swear, [7:58] that I will well and faithfully discharge, [8:00] that I will well and faithfully discharge, [8:02] to the best of my ability, [8:03] to the best of my ability, [8:05] the duties of my present position, [8:07] the duties of my present position, [8:09] and of all others I may hereafter hold, [8:15] under the Republic of the Philippines, [8:17] under the Republic of the Philippines, [8:18] that I will support and defend, [8:21] that I will support and defend, [8:22] the Constitution of the Philippines, [8:24] the Constitution of the Philippines, [8:25] that I will obey the law's legal orders and decrees, [8:32] promulgated by the duly constituted authorities, [8:35] promulgated by the duly constituted authorities, [8:38] and maintain true faith and allegiance, [8:40] and maintain true faith and allegiance, [8:42] to the Republic of the Philippines, [8:44] and that I impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily, [8:48] and that I impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily, [8:51] without mental reservation, [8:53] without mental reservation, [8:54] or purpose of evasion, [8:55] or purpose of evasion, [8:56] so help me God, [8:57] so help me God, [8:58] congratulations sir, [8:59] thank you.