EDITORIAL - Return to work

The president of the republic can call Congress to a special session anytime. Yesterday, President Marcos called for the special session, citing the need, among other things, for a law to better address relief and rehabilitation efforts in the quake-hit areas of Mindanao as well as approve the promotions of several military officers.

Ramping up the earthquake response alone is a valid reason for a special session. Mindanao continues to experience strong aftershocks following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on June 8 that killed at least 65 people, with 36 still missing, and injured over 1,400 others.

Marcos wants bicameral action on eight priority measures of his administration that are now in the advanced stages of legislation.

The special session, set this Wednesday, was called a day after Sen. Joel Villanueva announced that he would participate in case the President called for it. Villanueva, who will then become the 13th senator who is certain to attend, will ensure an indisputable quorum for carrying out the work during the special session.

Thirteen will ensure a quorum, but it’s still three senators shy of the two-thirds vote required to elect a new Senate president. Until the 16 votes are mustered, the Senate president pro tempore will serve as the presiding officer during the special session.

On June 12, the President in his Independence Day speech acknowledged Sherwin Gatchalian as the Senate president pro tempore. The special session will seal this recognition as well as Gatchalian’s role as acting Senate president.

Villanueva said he would be participating in the special session because it is his duty “to protect the institution.” The Senate has been rocked by unprecedented turbulence since Alan Peter Cayetano, with the help of Ronald dela Rosa, wrested the Senate presidency from Vicente Sotto III on May 11.

Dela Rosa has since continued his seven-month absence with full pay, evading arrest and turnover to the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity, while Cayetano insists that he remains as the Senate president.

Malacañang’s long list of priority measures shows how much work remains to be done by both chambers of Congress, even during the sine die adjournment. Taxpayers aren’t paying lawmakers their fat salaries and perks to engage in political warfare or, worse, to be absent with full pay.

Everyone must get back to work.