Geline Salac

Commotion breaks out among Remulla, Padilla, Cayetano

Article (news)

Jamaine Punzalan

Karen De Guzman

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<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/DFlzgWhwkSQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>MANILA — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Senators Robin Padilla and Pia Cayetano figured in a commotion on Thursday before a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/gatchalian-resource-persons-won-t-be-allowed-to-enter-senate-on-thursday-0948">flood control hearing led by the lawmakers’ bloc.</a></p><p>Remulla was at the Senate on the request of Senate President Pro Tempore, who said earlier in the day that resource persons of the hearing led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano would not be allowed to enter the premises. </p><p>Cayetano challenged this pronouncement, saying: “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/cayetano-flood-control-probe-0947">Martial law ba tayo ngayon?</a>Bawal bang magkaroon ng guest? So kung hindi nila ire-recognize ang Blue Ribbon committee, bawal kaming magkabisita dito?”</p><p>His sister and Padilla went down from the second floor of the Senate to the lobby to fetch the resource persons at around 9:30 a.m. </p><p>The lawmakers and Remulla then figured in what appeared to be a shoveoff, before the Cayetano bloc proceeded with the hearing. </p><p>Remulla later denied that he had attempted to block the senators and their resource persons who claimed to be former bagmen of ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co.</p><p>“I was alone about to go home. No police blocking force as with me,” Remulla said. </p><p>“I was walking out when a herd of people started pushing me through the narrow hall,” he added.</p><p>The Cabinet official said his presence at the Senate was related to security preparations and not to restrict access to the building.</p><p>“I was making sure the PSPG were deployed for a possible rally later,” he said. </p><p>Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it had increased police visibility around the Senate and nearby government facilities to prepare for possible protest actions and maintain public order.</p><p>Meanwhile, Sen. Pia Cayetano emerged from the session hall at past 11 a.m and said she was okay. She refused to answer questions regarding the commotion, saying she will address these later as she needed to preside in a Ways and Means Committee hearing.</p><p>“Attend lang ako because dahil sa mga confusing na pinapalabas ni Senator Sherwin na magsasara ng 10 a.m. I want to get to the hearings so that I can at least conduct the hearings. Sabi niya work muna eh di ba,” the older Cayetano said.</p><p>She refused to comment on Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero joining the Gatchalian bloc in the session hall on Wednesday.</p><p>The Gatchalian group mustered a quorum of 12 and declared all Senate positions vacant on Wednesday. They then elected Gatchalian as acting Senate chief and Sen. Erwin Tulfo as chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Committee looking into flood control anomalies. </p><p>Tulfo cancelled the June 4 hearing supposed to be led by Pia Cayetano and rescheduled the probe on June 8, Monday. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/3/senators-clash-on-blue-ribbon-hearing-resumption-2047">Senators clash on Blue Ribbon hearing resumption</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/3/what-is-the-quorum-of-12-that-broke-senate-standstill-1804">What is the ‘quorum of 12’ that broke Senate standstill?</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/jk1LZ66oRpU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Senators Robin Padilla and Pia Cayetano figured in a commotion on Thursday during a flood control hearing led by the lawmakers’ bloc.</p>

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Senators Robin Padilla and Pia Cayetano figured in a commotion on Thursday during a flood control hearing led by the lawmakers’ bloc.