Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

RG Cruz

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/1780472298871viber_image_2026-06-03_15-33-17-239.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Senator Win Gatchalian takes his oath as the new Senate President Pro Tempore after being elected by his colleagues, replacing Senator Loren Legarda during the Senate session. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Win Gatchalian takes his oath as the new Senate President Pro Tempore after being elected by his colleagues, replacing Senator Loren Legarda during the Senate session. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— The arrival of Sen. Francis Escudero allowed the Senate to convene on Wednesday, despite the absence of the group led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. </p><p>The 11-strong minority bloc was waiting for majority senators in the scheduled plenary session, when Escudero, the lone majority senator to attend, showed up at the session hall to applause from the floor and the gallery.</p><p>This allowed a quorum to be declared with 12 senators present.</p><p>Sen. Vicente Sotto III then moved to declare all positions in the Senate vacant, which was approved unanimously. </p><p>Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was then elected as Senate president pro tempore, while Sen Miguel Zubiri was named majority leader.</p><p>Sen. Erwin Tulfo was elected to the Blue Ribbon Committee, while Sen. JV Ejercito was elected to the Finance Committee.</p><p>Ray Bantug was named Senate secretary. </p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned earlier in the day that important laws could be derailed as senators from the majority bloc stopped attending sessions this week after Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa returned to hiding and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was arrested for his plunder case. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/3/marcos-on-senate-impasse-get-back-to-work-0949">Marcos to Senate: &#x27;Get back to work&#x27;</a></div><div><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/GQHt4-lzgrg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Last month, the 13-strong majority bloc took control of the Senate and installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. </p><p>Four days later, Dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, left the Senate&#x27;s custody after a shooting incident between its security personnel and the National Bureau of Investigation. </p><p>Estrada, another majority senator, was arrested on Monday over his flood control-related plunder case. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ESCUDERO: I AM TAKING A STAND FOR THE SENATE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In a statement, Escudero said he attended the session because &quot;the current impasse in the Senate is untenable and unacceptable.&quot;</p><p>He added: &quot;When political divisions become too extreme and obstruct our mandate, we must all have the courage to pause, gain perspective, reflect, consider and realize that we should put the  Senate, as the institution that we serve, above ourselves.&quot;</p><p>Escudero, a former Senate president, said he is not taking sides and that the session is not a political contest.</p><p>&quot;I am taking a stand for the Senate. My allegiance is not to any faction, personality, group or alliance. This is not about loyalty, betrayal, or choosing one group over the other—this is about duty.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;QUORUM OF 12&#x27;  </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Gatchalian noted that under the rules, neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate shall adjourn for more than three days without the consent fo the other house. </p><p>&quot;The Senate has been adjourned and unable to resume session for the past two days, placing us on the brink of constitutional violation had we not convened today,&quot; Gatchalian said. </p><p>&quot;Thus, in the absence of a duly consulted postponement and the continued absence of the former Senate president, the former president pro tempore, and members of the majority, we are compelled to call the session to order,&quot; he said. </p><p>Gatchalian said &quot;the quorum of 12 is based on majority of 22 senators, over whom jurisdiction can be obtained by the Senate.&quot; </p><p>&quot;This is in full accord of the ruling of the court in Avelino vs Cuenco that an absolute majority of 12 out of the 23 members can consitute a constitutional majority of the Senate for quorum purposes,&quot; he said. </p><p>He cited as precedent the May 5, 2015 session where &quot;the quorum was based on 17 available senators&quot; with &quot;seven others beyond the Senate&#x27;s coercive jurisdiction.&quot;</p><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong></div>

<p>The arrival of Sen. Francis Escudero allowed the Senate to convene on Wednesday, despite the absence of the group led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.</p>

The arrival of Sen. Francis Escudero allowed the Senate to convene on Wednesday, despite the absence of the group led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Escudero arrival allows Senate to convene despite Cayetano group’s boycott; Gatchalian elected as Senate president pro tempore

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Escudero arrival allows Senate to convene despite Cayetano group’s boycott; Gatchalian elected as Senate president pro tempore

Jamaine Punzalan,

RG Cruz,

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 03, 2026 03:01 PM PHT

|

Updated June 03, 2026 04:02 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

majority

minority

plenary

Francis Escudero

Sherwin Gatchalian

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