MANILA — Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian rejected proposals for a possible power-sharing arrangement aimed at resolving the ongoing leadership deadlock in the Senate.

Gatchalian said it is clear who was elected Senate President Pro Tempore and later designated as acting Senate President during the June 3, 2026 plenary session.

“So klaro po duon sino ang dinesignate at hinalal. Tayo po yun, isa lang. Kaya hindi po posible yung power-sharing dahil isang tao lang po ang hinalal (So it was clear there who were designated and elected. And that is us—just one. That is why power-sharing is not possible because only one person was elected,” Gatchalian said in an interview on DZRH radio.

He said neither the Senate nor his camp has received any communication from the Supreme Court regarding any request to comment or submit documents on petitions questioning the legitimacy of his leadership.

“Wala pa kaming natatanggap eh, sa Supreme Court any request to comment or file or submit documents…wala pa kaming nakukuha (We haven’t received any request to comment or file or submit documents from the Supreme Court. We haven’t received anything,” he said.

On June 3, 12 senators, including Gatchalian, reportedly formed a quorum despite the absence of 10 senators, including then Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

Cayetano and his group had been absent during the last three session days, which led the new majority bloc to install new Senate officials and designate Gatchalian as acting Senate president.

Malacañang and the House of Representatives have recognized Gatchalian’s designation as acting Senate leader.

However, Cayetano maintained that he remains Senate president, calling the actions of the new majority bloc illegal.

To address the impasse, Cayetano earlier proposed interim administrative arrangements with Gatchalian’s group, including a dual-signatory or joint-certification system for financial and administrative documents to ensure continuity of Senate operations and the impeachment court.

Gatchalian, however, said he is the presiding officer of the impeachment court convened on May 18 for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

He also cited Senate records showing the long-standing recognition of a 12-member quorum, saying the June 3 session was legitimate.

“Hindi natin pwedeng baguhin ang kasaysayan. Ang Senate records mismo ang nagpapatunay na hindi na bago ang nangyaring sesyon noong June 3 at ito ay lehitimo (We can’t change history. Senate records itself can attest that what happened last June 3 was nothing new and that is legitimate),” he said.