Photo credit: Paolo Ortega

The House of Representatives has reaffirmed its recognition of Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian as the Senate's leader, while urging the upper chamber to quickly resolve its internal leadership dispute and proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Speaking on a radio interview Sunday, House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said the House has already completed its constitutional responsibilities in the impeachment process and is now waiting for the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, to carry out its duties.

Ortega noted that Speaker Faustino Dy III had earlier acknowledged and congratulated Gatchalian after he was elected Senate President Pro Tempore by a group of senators on June 3.

The leadership issue emerged after senators declared leadership positions vacant following the formation of a quorum, citing legal precedents aimed at preventing the Senate from being paralyzed by prolonged absences from plenary sessions.

According to Ortega, recognition of Gatchalian's leadership has also come from several legal institutions and government sectors, including Malacañang and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

While emphasizing that the House is no longer directly involved in the next phase of the impeachment proceedings, Ortega said lawmakers are eager to see the Senate settle its internal concerns so attention can shift to the scheduled trial of Vice President Duterte.

He expressed hope that supporters of both former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Gatchalian would eventually reach a peaceful resolution, allowing the Senate to focus on its constitutional obligations.

Ortega acknowledged that the ongoing dispute could potentially affect the timeline of the impeachment proceedings. However, he stressed that lawmakers remain focused on the tentative July 6 start of the trial and believe the process should continue without unnecessary delays.

The deputy speaker also pointed to strong public interest in the impeachment case, saying many Filipinos continue to seek answers regarding allegations cited in the articles of impeachment against the vice president.

For Ortega, the impeachment trial is ultimately about accountability and transparency, regardless of its eventual outcome.

He argued that political disagreements within the Senate should not overshadow what he described as a constitutional responsibility that deserves immediate attention.

Once the leadership issue is resolved, Ortega said the impeachment proceedings should move forward so the public can hear the evidence, understand the issues involved, and receive clarity on the accusations raised against Duterte.

He also maintained that recent developments in the Senate have created the perception of delays, but stressed that such circumstances should never become a reason to postpone the impeachment process.

According to Ortega, regardless of the position taken by the Office of the Vice President or Duterte's legal team regarding the Senate's leadership questions, the impeachment calendar should remain on track.

He further noted that the vice president's filing of an answer to the articles of impeachment indicates that all parties recognize the process is moving forward and that a trial is expected to take place.

As Congress remains adjourned, calls have grown for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to convene a special session to address pending legislative matters and ensure that preparations for the impeachment trial continue without further setbacks.

For now, attention remains fixed on the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to resolve the leadership dispute before turning their focus to major legislative priorities and the highly anticipated impeachment proceedings.