Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178184559696220260518-senate-impeachment-court-cayetano-MT14.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senators formally convene as an impeachment court to try the complaints filed against Vice President Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on May 18, 2026.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Retired Supreme Court (SC) associate justice Adolfo Azcuna believes the petition of the Cayetano bloc before the SC questioning the legality of the Senate’s June 3 session is already moot and academic. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/16/cayetano-seeks-supreme-court-relief-in-senate-leadership-row-with-gatchalian-1408">Cayetano seeks Supreme Court relief in Senate leadership row with Gatchalian</a></div><p>According to Azcuna in an interview on ANC’s Headstart, this is because newly elected Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian already has 13 votes.</p><p>“It is now moot and academic because Senate President Gatchalian has been elected by a majority of 13, which even Senator Cayetano concedes is the number required to elect a Senate President,” Azcuna explained on Friday. </p><p>“The court would probably dismiss the petition for being moot and academic.”</p><p>“Whether or not the Supreme Court will continue to entertain the petition is up to the Supreme Court,” he added. “And I do not believe the Supreme Court will restrain the co-equal body from proceeding, from performing what is mandated by the Constitution for it to do.”</p><p>Azcuna is also of the opinion that there is no legal barrier to Gatchalian’s Senate presidency.</p><p>The petition, filed on June 16, questions the legitimacy of the June 3 session, which declared all seats vacant and elected Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore. The complaint argued that there was no quorum that day.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/cayetano-admits-there-may-be-enough-numbers-to-elect-new-sp-0756">Cayetano admits there may be enough numbers to elect new Senate President</a></div><p>The petition was filed by Cayetano, and Senators Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, and Camille Villar, as well as Cayetano&#x27;s Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales.</p><p>Gatchalian has previously said he leaves it to the Supreme Court to decide.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8AoLFxqbaWQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Plc5Uvp8SA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Retired SC associate justice Adolfo Azcuna believes the petition of the Cayetano bloc questioning the legality of the Senate’s June 3 session is already moot and academic.</p>

Retired SC associate justice Adolfo Azcuna believes the petition of the Cayetano bloc questioning the legality of the Senate’s June 3 session is already moot and academic.

Cayetano petition questioning June 3 session 'moot and academic'—Ex-SC justice

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Cayetano petition questioning June 3 session 'moot and academic'—Ex-SC justice

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 19, 2026 01:24 PM PHT

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Updated June 19, 2026 01:29 PM PHT

Read More:

win gatchalian

alan cayetano

supreme court

adolfo azcuna

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