Sen. Loren Legarda has maintained that she remains the legitimate Senate President Pro Tempore, arguing that recent actions taken by the New Majority Bloc violated constitutional and legal requirements.
In a video posted on social media, Legarda said the Constitution clearly requires the presence of 13 senators for official Senate actions, including elections.
Based on this provision, she argued that the New Majority Bloc’s election of Sen. Win Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore was invalid because only 12 senators were present during the proceedings.
Legarda also questioned the legality of the appointments made afterward, including the designation of a new Senate Secretary and a new Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.
According to the senator, the declaration of vacant committee chairmanships and the appointment of new committee heads were likewise unlawful because the required number of senators was not present when those actions were taken.
She further argued that the New Majority Bloc could not rely on the Avelino vs. Cuenco case to justify its actions.
Legarda said the case was decided in 1949 under the 1935 Constitution, making it different from the current constitutional framework governing the Senate.
The senator warned that allowing such actions to stand could affect future Senate reorganizations. She said the process could eventually cease to reflect the broader interests of the public and instead serve the interests of only a few individuals.
The remarks come amid continuing disagreements within the Senate over leadership changes, committee reorganizations and the interpretation of quorum requirements for official proceedings.
Legarda reiterated her position that the recent actions of the New Majority Bloc were inconsistent with constitutional and legal standards and maintained that she continues to hold the position of Senate President Pro Tempore.
