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Senator Erwin Tulfo, along with members of the Senate majority under the Gatchalian bloc, holds a meeting at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City this Monday, June 8, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Senator Erwin Tulfo, along with members of the Senate majority under the Gatchalian bloc, holds a meeting at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City this Monday, June 8, 2026. The committee tackled issues involving government accountability, transparency in the use of public funds, and oversight of government programs in aid of legislation. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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SENATE BLUE RIBBON--GATCHALIAN BLOC

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178107631272020260608-senate-blue-ribbon-gatchalian-bloc-MT3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Senator Erwin Tulfo, along with members of the Senate majority under the Gatchalian bloc, holds a meeting at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City this Monday, June 8, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/>Senator Erwin Tulfo, along with members of the Senate majority under the Gatchalian bloc, holds a meeting at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City this Monday, June 8, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — The Supreme Court dismissed on Wednesday the petition filed by high school teacher Barry Tayam to determine who should be recognized as the leader of the Senate:  Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano or Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.During its en banc session, the court acted on Tayam&#x27;s petition that named Cayetano and Sens. Pia Cayetano and Loren Legarda as respondents.The SC dismissed the petition for Tayam’s <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/5/teacher-asks-supreme-court-to-affirm-gatchalian-s-senate-leadership-1241">lack of legal standing</a>.“The SC ruled that Tayam failed to show that he suffered, or was at imminent risk of suffering, any direct injury from the actions he challenged,” the court said in a statement.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/10/gatchalian-says-his-doors-heart-open-to-cayetano-and-allies-1502">Gatchalian says his doors, heart open to Cayetano and allies</a></div>The court noted that in his petition filed last week, Tayam asked the SC to declare the presence of 12 senators led by Gatchalian during the June 3 session as a valid quorum.Tayam also argued that the Cayetano bloc committed grave abuse of discretion for holding a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, of which Sens. Bong Go, Ronald Dela Rosa and Robinhood Padilla are members, has said it would question the leadership change at the Senate at the Supreme Court.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/pdp-to-question-constitutionality-of-gatchalian-bloc-s-quorum-before-sc-1221">PDP to question constitutionality of Gatchalian bloc’s quorum before SC</a></div>In a group chat with Senate media, Sen. Vicente Sotto III played down the dismissal of the petition, saying people may have &quot;misunderstood&quot; it.&quot;The petition is not justiceable therefore no need for SC to take it up,&quot; he said Thursday adding interpreting it as a ruling against the 12-person quorum is &quot;wishful thinking.&quot; — with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

The Supreme Court dismissed on Wednesday the petition filed by high school teacher Barry Tayam to determine who should be recognized as the leader of the Senate: Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano or Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

The Supreme Court dismissed on Wednesday the petition filed by high school teacher Barry Tayam to determine who should be recognized as the leader of the Senate: Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano or Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

SC: Teacher lacks standing to seek court action on Senate leadership row

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SC: Teacher lacks standing to seek court action on Senate leadership row

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 10, 2026 03:43 PM PHT

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Updated June 11, 2026 01:27 PM PHT

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