Gatchalian and Cayetano contradict work set up for Senate employees

MANILA, Philippines — Some Senate officials and employees are confused or "in limbo" as to who to obey amid conflicting directives from what appeared to be two factions of Senate leaders amid power struggle in the chamber. Sens. Win Gatchalian and Alan Peter Cayetano insist of being the Senate president. They both assigned their respective Senate secretaries and sergeant-at-arms. Gatchalian, newly-installed Senate president pro tempore, enforced a work-from-home arrangement on Thursday as "no official business has been scheduled tomorrow." Cayetano, who still has 10 bloc mates as of Tuesday, lost the Senate leadership after Sen. Chiz Escudero abandoned him and became the 12th member of the minority bloc -- forming the new majority group. Gatchalian, also designated by the majority as acting Senate president, issued the instruction "to give way to the organization of committees under the new chairmen." "In light of this developments and to preserve the neutrality of the Senate bureaucracy, all Senate Secretariat and Senate proper offices are hereby authorized to work-from-home on the said date," Gatchalian said. But ousted Senate president Alan Peter Cayetano, who insisted that he remains Senate chief, countered Gatchalian's directive. "I'm issuing a memo to the Secretariat and to the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms to keep the Senate open tomorrow. We will have the Blue Ribbon Committee [public] hearing," Cayetano said. "As Senate president, nasa authority ko po ang premises ng Senado (the Senate premises are under my authority)," Cayetano said. Gatchalian's bloc appointed Renato Bantug and retired police Maj. Gen. Alfred Corpuz as Senate secretary and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms respectively. But Cayetano insisted that Jose Luis Montales remains as Senate secretary and Manuel Parlade stays as acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. "Do not padlock the Senate. I will go to the Senate before 10 o'clock. I will do what I can to open the session hall and our hearings will be there," Cayetano said in a statement. Gatchalian said, "No officer or employee shall be deemed insubordinate, absent without leave, or otherwise administratively responsible for opting to avail of the arrangement."

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