Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian announced on Wednesday that he has signed the payroll checks for Senate employees, despite the escalating leadership issue in the Upper House.
Gatchalian Recognized by Financial Institutions
In a social media post, Gatchalian stated that financial institutions recognize him as authorized to sign for Senate transactions. He assured that the salaries and benefits of approximately 2,000 employees would not be affected by the leadership dispute.
Background of the Leadership Conflict
The misunderstanding over Senate leadership continues between the faction of Gatchalian and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. Cayetano earlier proposed a power-sharing arrangement to maintain smooth Senate operations, but Gatchalian rejected the offer.
Despite the political tension, Gatchalian emphasized that the Senate's work continues under his leadership, including fulfilling obligations to its staff. “Amid the political noise, the Senate's work continues under our leadership, including meeting its obligations to employees,” Gatchalian said in a post.
