The Tamesis
June 5, 2026
Manila – “Umayos kayo (Act together).”
That was Malacañang’s message to senators amid weeks of political turmoil in the Senate, especially after Sen. Robin Hood Padilla and Interior Secretary Jovich Remulla earlier pushed each other inside the legislative building.
Palace press officer Claire Castro was asked about a message from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a press conference on Thursday as chaos continued in the Senate. She responded by calling on senators to get their act together.
Castro also said Marcos would not tolerate the current situation in the Senate as he is due to deliver his fourth State of the Union address next month (SONA).
“Sona may be affected, but the president remains focused on his goals and committed to advancing the bills he wants to serve the people,” she said.
“This is going to be an issue unique to the Senate — it’s going to be a Senate issue. So whoever has power in the Senate should take action. At this point, we recognize the leadership of Acting Senate President Gatchalian,” the palace official continued.
On Wednesday, Castro also issued a statement welcoming Gatchalian’s election as Senate President Pro Tempore.
“What happened in the Senate this afternoon was consistent with the law and the rule of law,” she said.
“The Palace recognizes and respects the decision of the new majority and the leadership of Acting Senate President Gatchalian,” Castro added.
She reiterated at a press conference on Thursday that only Gatchalian’s leadership can be recognized by the presidential palace.
“The Palace recognizes Acting Senate President Gatchalian’s leadership,” she said.
Another change in Senate leadership came after Marcos called on senators to “get back to work” and warned that the chamber would not be able to hold meetings, disrupting basic legislative functions and undermining the government’s efforts to address pressing national issues.
He said the government was also currently exploring all legal options, including invoking the president’s constitutional powers. But he stressed that resolving the impasse ultimately depends on the cooperation and commitment of Senate leadership. /das/atm
