Senate President Win Gatchalian said he has been hurt by online memes circulating about his seating arrangement beside Sen. Francis Escudero during the impeachment proceedings involving Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Siyempre nasasaktan, tao lang naman tayo” (“Of course it hurts. We’re only human.”), Gatchalian said when asked whether he felt offended or affected by the memes shared on social media.
The memes emerged after Escudero assumed the role of presiding officer in the impeachment trial, with the two senators regularly seated beside each other at the podium during the proceedings.
Despite the criticism online, Gatchalian said he continues to carry out his responsibilities because the arrangement is part of his official duties.
He explained that although Escudero now serves as the presiding officer, he remains the Senate President and continues to exercise general supervision over the impeachment proceedings.
According to Gatchalian, his role is to ensure that the trial proceeds in an orderly and peaceful manner even if he is no longer presiding over the hearings.
He also said his decision to have Escudero serve as presiding officer would allow him to focus on other legislative responsibilities.
These include preparations for the Senate’s budget deliberations and discussions on measures endorsed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
Gatchalian maintained that balancing the impeachment proceedings with the Senate’s legislative agenda was among the reasons for the arrangement.
His remarks came in response to questions about social media posts criticizing the seating setup during the impeachment trial. He said that while the comments have affected him personally, he remains focused on fulfilling his responsibilities as Senate President while overseeing the chamber’s broader legislative work.
