Win Gatchalian: No standard practice for outgoing senators to dismantle offices

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Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday said there is no standard practice requiring outgoing senators to dismantle everything in their offices before leaving their space.

“Wala namang standard practice kung ano ‘yung dapat gawin,” Gatchalian told GMA News’ Unang Balita.

(There is no standard practice on what to do.)

The vacated office of detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada was seen bare and stripped of furniture, sockets, and tiles. The room was taken over by Senator Vicente Sotto III who replaced Estrada as Senate President Pro Tempore.

According to Estrada’s staff, dismantling fixtures and other materials from a Senate office previously occupied by a senator is an established and accepted practice.

However, Gatchalian recalled that when he became a senator in 2016, former Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III turned over his office intact and ready for use.

He said the same happened when Senator Panfilo Lacson’s office was transferred to Senator Grace Poe.

Gatchalian said leaving an office intact would help the Senate save on renovation costs and allow an incoming senator to immediately start working.

But he also confirmed that the furnishings and renovations in Estrada’s office had been paid for using his personal funds, with no government money spent on the renovation.

'Courtesy'

However, because the office was left empty, Gatchalian said Sotto would have to spend for its renovation. Gatchalian said Senate policy provides up to P700,000 for office renovations.

“Ang aking personal opinion ay out of courtesy sana nabigyan ng abiso si Senator Sotto kung ano yung gagawin sa opisina dahil napaka-busy kasi ng Senado at gusto natin makalipat kaagad si Senator Sotto at makapagtrabaho kaagad nang walang iintindihin,” he said.

(My personal opinion is that out of courtesy, Senator Sotto should have been given notice of what will be done in the office because the Senate is very busy and we want Senator Sotto to be able to move in immediately and start working without any issues.)

“At last yun na nga dahil walang-wala yung opisina, gagastos yung gobyerno para ma-renovate ito,” he added.

(And lastly, because the office is empty, the government will have to spend money to renovate it.)

Gatchalian said the Senate is targeting to move to its new building by the end of 2027. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA News