Camille Naredo

Only senators belonging to the minority bloc were present inside the Senate plenary hall at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City during the scheduled session on June 2, 2026, as no member of the majority bloc appeared on the session floor for the second consecutive day. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SENATE

Jamaine Punzalan

Marilyn Cahatol

Victoria Tulad

RG Cruz

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/1780387971913viber_image_2026-06-02_15-56-43-138.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Only senators belonging to the minority bloc were present inside the Senate plenary hall at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City during the scheduled session on June 2, 2026, as no member of the majority bloc appeared on the session floor for the second consecutive day. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Only senators belonging to the minority bloc were present inside the Senate plenary hall at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City during the scheduled session on June 2, 2026, as no member of the majority bloc appeared on the session floor for the second consecutive day. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>4th </strong><strong>UPDATE</strong>) — Members of the Senate minority on Tuesday called on Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to resign after the majority bloc skipped the supposed plenary session for the second straight day. </p><p>Only eleven minority senators were at the Senate session at the expected start of a plenary session at 3 p.m. Around 20 minutes later, the minority said Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales was advised by Cayetano that the majority bloc would not attend the session.</p><p>&quot;Hindi nagpaliwanag, basta hindi daw darating today,&quot; Senator Francis Pangilinan told the media. </p><p>&quot;Hindi na lang daw sila darating uli,&quot; Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri added.</p><p>Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales confirmed that he received a message from Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano who said the majority will not be coming.</p><p>After discussing the situation in the Senate lounge, the minority senators held a press conference where they condemned the supposed violations of Senate rules.</p><p>&quot;What happened today was a clear abandonment of responsibility, dereliction of duty, blatant disregard of the rules that govern this institution. The Senate cannot be made to stop working simply because its presiding officer refuses to lead,&quot; Sen. Erwin Tulfo said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/2/lacson-majority-bloc-s-no-show-at-senate-session-dereliction-of-duty-1110">Majority bloc accused of holding &#x27;legislation hostage&#x27; over Monday no-show</a></div><p>He said the Senate chief can only suspend session after a consultation with the majority and minority leaders. </p><p>&quot;That is not merely a procedural lapse. It is a direct violation of the rules of the Senate and a serious disrespect for the institution and the Filipino people,&quot; Tulfo said. </p><p>He added that Cayetano &quot;should bind us, yet he has shown that he cannot function as the leader of the Senate anymore.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano SHOULD RESIGN as he has shown that he cannot function as the leader of the Senate,&quot; the minority bloc said in a statement posted on Facebook by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhontiverosrisa%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0C1TP65kU2KA7gmDxBNQVio3UHZhq78acwh1mhzhYP6UxEZtZoWdfCP1wGPxfwWb9l&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="498" style="border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor;border-image:initial;overflow:hidden;--darkreader-inline-border-top:0px;--darkreader-inline-border-right:0px;--darkreader-inline-border-bottom:0px;--darkreader-inline-border-left:0px" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left=""></iframe></span></div><p>&quot;Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano should resign as he has shown that he cannot function as the leader of the Senate anymore,&quot; Tulfo said.</p><p>&quot;Sa dami ng nilalabag na Rules ng Senado, it’s actually impunity masquerading as assertion of the Senate as an independent institution. Impunity ito. Sunod-sunod ang paglabag mula noong May 11,&quot; stressed Pangilinan, who also said that they will review all legal remedies in order to address the current situation including possible ethics complaints and going to the Supreme Court.</p><p>On Monday, <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/1/senate-majority-no-show-in-supposed-monday-session-2005">no senator from the majority bloc attended </a>the supposed plenary session, hours after <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/2/waiting-game-at-senate-a-day-after-majority-no-show-1526">Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was arrested </a>in the Senate premises for his plunder case related to the flood control scandal.</p><p>Cayetano on the same day challenged members of the minority bloc to <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/1/cayetano-wants-senate-minority-to-defend-chamber-s-independence-amid-estrada-arrest-2019">defend the chamber’s independence</a> and “go quiet” in protest of the day’s events. </p><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;ATTEMPT TO SNATCH COMMITTEES&#x27;? </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tX9xvq-1rkM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>On Tuesday, Cayetano claimed the minority is trying to prevent a resumption of the Blue Ribbon Committee investigation on the flood control scandal. </p><p>Instead of opening the session as presiding officer, Cayetano took to Facebook where he said the minority did not want a change of leadership last May 11.</p><p>&quot;Noong May 11, kaya pala nandun yung NBI, kaya pala pinapasok nung mga nasa majority noon at nasa minority ngayon, ayaw nila magkaroon ng palitan ng leadership. Ang sinabi nila, na hindi katotohanan, ay dahil daw &#x27;to sa impeachment. Pero yun pala, ito ay tungkol sa maraming bagay kasama po na magkaroon ng independent, impartial impeachment, but also ayaw na magkaroon ng hearing sa Blue Ribbon na kung saan lalabas ang buong katotohanan,&quot; he said. </p><p>He added that the majority is using the power of the quorum to prevent this. </p><p>“Ginamit nila yung parliamentary tool na walk-out para hindi matuloy ang pag-change ng rule. Ngayon po, ang majority, ginagamit din po ang rule sa tama, morally, legally, to ensure na hindi agawin ang mga committees para po matuloy ang hearing ng Blue Ribbon sa Thursday at ang iba’t iba pang mga importanteng hearing sa bawat committee,” Cayetano said. </p><p>The investigative panel — now chaired by his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano — is set to resume its flood control hearing on Thursday with a new set of panel members.</p><p>Cayetano also promised an “independent” impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Duterte. </p><p>“Walang mga scheme, sinister plot. Basta kung anong ebidensiya, lalabas yung ebidensiya,” he said. </p><p>The minority denied that they are blocking any committee hearing, particularly the resumption of the Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry on anomalous flood control projects scheduled on Thursday, June 4. </p><p>Zubiri said this was only a figment of imagination of the majority bloc.</p><p>The minority also belied the statement of Senator Jinggoy Estrada that he was threatened to turn his back on the majority in exchange for his cases being dropped. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;SA FACEBOOK SIYA PUMAPASOK&#x27;</strong></div><p>But Tulfo said Cayetano should face his colleagues at the Senate, instead of releasing statements online. </p><p>&quot;Ang masakit n&#x27;yan imbes na pumasok siya rito... sa Facebook siya pumapasok. Dito dapat siya magsalita,&quot; he said.</p><p>Hontiveros added, &quot;Abuse po yan ng sinasabing parliamentary rules ng Senado. Hindi po namin hinahadlangan na magpatuloy ang ano mang pagdinig ng komite basta nasa tamang paraan.&quot;</p><p>She also took exception to Cayetano&#x27;s appeal for the chamber to &quot;go quiet&quot;, saying: &quot;Ang Senado ay dapat boses ng mamamayan.&quot; </p><p>&quot;Bakit niya bubusalan? Kung bubusalan niya at hindi niya bibigyang daan ang boses ng Senado... talagang hindi na siya karapat-dapat mamuno,&quot; Hontiveros said. </p><p>&quot;Sa dami ng nilalabag na rules ng Senado, it&#x27;s actually impunity masquerading as assertion of the Senate as an independent institution,&quot; added Pangilinan.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?</strong><strong> </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vvG3ACSrqz8?&amp;pp=0gcJCSALAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div><p>Asked whether the minority would attend Wednesday the last session day before Senate goes on break, Sen. Ping Lacson said, &quot;We&#x27;ll be here because that&#x27;s our duty.&quot; </p><p>Tulfo told Cayetano: &quot;Kung matapang ka, pumunta ka rito bukas. Otherwise, duwag ka.&quot; </p><p>&quot;We appeal to all our colleagues, they should attend session,&quot; said Zubiri. &quot;Binabayaran tayo ng taong bayan para magtrabaho, para mag-legislate -- hindi para mag-absent, absent lamang at magbulakbol.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Every day, ang Senate gumagasto ng P25 million, kuryente, sa utilities, sa sweldo, pero walang session na nangyari, walang batas na na-approve, walang resolution na-approve. Pati confirmation ng mga military personnel natin, hindi nako-confirm. Sayang ang bayad ng taongbayan,&quot; added Sen. Win Gatchalian. </p><p>&quot;Magkita-kita tayo dito. Puwede pong pagdebatehan kahit anong bagay, puwedeng pag-usapan,&quot; Sen. Bam Aquino said. </p><p>June 3 is the last session day before Congress adjourns sine die. Session will resume on July 27, the day of the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. </p><p>The minority also called on the majority senators to join them.</p><p>&quot;Puwera lang si ano, si Alan Peter. Lahat iniimbitahan namin, umanib kayo sa amin. Pero si Alan Peter steady ka lang diyan,”&quot; Senator Raffy Tulfo said. </p><p>Zubiri mentioned that some majority senators have texted him and said they want to work. They were allegedly confused as to why the situation in the Senate has reached its current point. </p><p>According to the older Tulfo, there is still a chance that three to five of their colleagues may possibly jump ship. He believes many in the majority still have a sense of responsibility.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CAYETANO SAYS RESIGNATION CALL &#x27;NOT NEW&#x27;</strong></div><p>In another Facebook live, Cayetano said the call for his resignation is “not new,” noting that the new minority since February this year had used the cases faced by their formerly allied senators to maintain the previous majority bloc. </p><p>“Actually it’s news because they said it today but it’s not new. Why? From day one, February pa. February na pinipigilan nila na matanggal si Sen. [Vicente] Sotto [III] at mabuwag ang kanilang mayorya at maging minority. Ginamit na po pati yung mga kaso sa minority members na kasama namin na huwag kayong lilipat. Pag lilipat kayo, tuloy ang kaso. Pag hindi kayo lumipat, walang kaso,” he said. </p><p>Cayetano also responded to Tulfo calling him “duwag,” saying: “Yung hamon mo, magpakita ako kung hindi duwag, eh para mo ring sinabi, halimbawa, ‘Ikaw senator, maging independent ka, kung hindi duwag ka.’”</p><p>“This is not a radio or TV program, this is not entertainment. This is the Senate of the Philippines, so we have to be professional,” he added. </p><p>The Senate president urged Tulfo to “use his voice for the good of the country.”</p><p>“Eh kung hindi ka lang Tulfo at kung hindi lang Tulfo ang kapatid mong si Erwin, eh sinumbong ko na kayo kay Tulfo eh,” Cayetano said. </p><p>“Pero ang reality is, because nandiyan kayo, because you have a strong voice, use it for the good of the country,” he added.</p>

<p>Members of the Senate majority on Tuesday skipped the supposed plenary session for the second straight day, which the minority bloc said was "a clear abandonment of responsibility" and "dereliction of duty."</p>

Members of the Senate majority on Tuesday skipped the supposed plenary session for the second straight day, which the minority bloc said was "a clear abandonment of responsibility" and "dereliction of duty."

Minority senators urge Cayetano to resign as Senate chief over 'dereliction of duty' in 2nd no-show

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Minority senators urge Cayetano to resign as Senate chief over 'dereliction of duty' in 2nd no-show

Jamaine Punzalan,

Marilyn Cahatol,

Victoria Tulad,

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News,

Published June 02, 2026 03:26 PM PHT

|

Updated June 02, 2026 08:43 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

majority

minority

Alan Peter Cayetano

Ping Lacson

Risa Hontiveros

politics

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.