Mark Villar joined Senate majority to help ensure stability, says Gatchalian

MANILA — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Sen. Mark Villar joined the chamber’s majority bloc to help maintain stability and ensure the Senate’s legislative work continues smoothly.

Gatchalian said he and Villar, who recently left the minority bloc, have been close friends for years and have regularly discussed the direction of the Senate.

“Sa aming pag-uusap, pareho naman ang aming ninanais na maging stable ang Senado at maging dire-diretso ang trabaho lalo na sa mga legislation at ‘yung mga dapat gawin para umangat ‘yung ating ekonomiya,” Gatchalian told reporters.

He described Villar as an experienced businessman and economist whose expertise could benefit the majority bloc.

“Si Mark kasi, kilala ko, isa rin ’yan sa ating mga magagaling na negosyante, economist. May masters degree ’yan in Business Economics so mahalaga ’yung kaniyang matutulong sa grupo,” he said.

“So kung kausap ko siya — madalas naman kami mag-usap — at nakita niya na ang direksiyon naman ng Senado ngayon ay maayos kaya sumama sya to bring stability,” Gatchalian added.

Villar formally joined the majority on Thursday, Oct. 8, after being elected chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works and a member of the Commission on Appointments, replacing Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri in the latter post. 

His move increased the majority bloc’s membership to 14, leaving 10 senators in the minority.

However, Villar’s transfer comes as the Senate continues hearing the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, prompting questions about whether the realignment could affect the proceedings.

Before formally joining the majority, Villar had already broken ranks with his former minority colleagues on Sept. 23, when he voted in favor of changing the formula used to determine the number of votes needed to convict Duterte.

Gatchalian, however, stressed that the impeachment outcome would depend on how senator-judges assess the evidence presented during the trial.

“Lahat ‘yan ay babagsak sa ebidensya at kung paano ma-appreciate ng senator-judges ang ebidensya,” he said.

He cited the testimony of the prosecution’s financial forensic expert, saying that even a strong presentation would not automatically persuade all senator-judges.

“Sabi ko nga kahapon, maganda ‘yung presentation ni Atty. Cabrera pero depende ‘yan sa appreciation, kung maniniwala ang mga senator-judges sa kaniyang presentation,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian said senators would have to evaluate the evidence independently, noting that they could have differing assessments of the same testimony.

“Sa ganitong punto, iba-iba talaga ang pag-iisip ng mga senator judges,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian said Sen. Loren Legarda had submitted an extension of her medical leave.

He declined to provide further details about her condition but said she was dealing with a serious illness.

“Wala pa naman nabibigay na balita kung kailan siya ay babalik pero ang importante kasi, madalas ko sabihin sa kanya, ay health,” he said.

“Wala namang kapalit ang magandang kalusugan dahil hindi na maibabalik ‘yan,” he said.