Senator Alan Peter Cayetano challenged Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to a face to face meeting to settle the escalating dispute over who should lead the Senate.
In a weekend livestream, Cayetano said he had a proposed way forward, but maintained that the issue ultimately hinged on how the law defines a legitimate Senate president.
He argued that leadership must be decided by at least 13 votes, citing the Constitution and Senate rules as the basis for his claim that he remains the rightful head of the chamber.
The standoff stemmed from a June 3 session where 12 senators present declared leadership posts vacant and proceeded to install Gatchalian as Senate president pro tempore, later treating him as acting Senate president.
The group relied on a long standing Supreme Court ruling that allowed a quorum of 12 under certain conditions, a move that has split the chamber.
Cayetano and his allies rejected this interpretation, saying the ruling was based on an older Constitution and should not apply under the current legal framework.
Senator Loren Legarda echoed this view, stressing that the 1987 Constitution requires 13 votes to elect Senate officials, including the Senate president.
Gatchalian, however, stood by the legality of the move, pointing to support from legal organizations, law experts, and former Senate leaders who backed the quorum basis used.
Malacañang has also recognized Gatchalian’s leadership, signaling where executive support currently stands in the ongoing power struggle.
Tensions further escalated after Cayetano accused Senator Panfilo Lacson of bias in past hearings, an allegation Lacson dismissed, saying investigations were anchored on evidence and had led to formal cases before the courts.