Camille Naredo

Senator Win Gatchalian and Senator Loren Legarda. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News; Joseph B. Vidal / Voltaire F. Domingo,  Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

PH SENATE

Harlene Delgado

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/1780745023707THUMB.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Senator Win Gatchalian and Senator Loren Legarda. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News; Joseph B. Vidal / Voltaire F. Domingo,  Senate Social Media Unit"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Win Gatchalian and Senator Loren Legarda. <em style="text-align:left">Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News; Joseph B. Vidal / Voltaire F. Domingo,  Senate Social Media Unit</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian maintained the legality of the June 3 Senate session where his group declared quorum and catapulted him as acting Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore -- a move that has been met with strong opposition from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s bloc.</p><p>This, as he responded to Senator Loren Legarda — who is the Senate President Pro-Tempore of Cayetano’s group and was replaced by the Gatchalian bloc in the June 3 session — who said in a Facebook video that the move to elect new Senate officers and declare committee chairmanships as vacant was unconstitutional, saying that they lacked one vote to constitute a majority.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/loren-legarda-insists-she-s-still-senate-president-pro-tempore-1049"><strong>Loren Legarda insists she&#x27;s still Senate President pro tempore: &#x27;Never po tayong kapit-tuko&#x27;</strong></a></div><p>While he respects Legarda’s opinion, Gatchalian said the opinions of legal experts and law associations have more weight.</p><p>“Matibay rin ang opinyon ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines, ‘yung association ng mga law school deans, of course mga former Senate President nagsalita rin sila. So para sa’kin, mas mabigat yung opinyon nila dahil yung mga ganitong bagay, pinag-aaralan nila,” he told reporters in an ambush interview after his visit and turnover of aid to fire victims in Delpan, Manila.</p><p>The IBP earlier released a statement <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/ibp-12-person-senate-session-was-lawful-and-valid-1850">supporting the legality of the June 3 session</a>.</p><p>“In short, the Senate session of June 3, 2026 was lawful and valid following the Avelino doctrine because a quorum of 12 Senators was constituted,” it said.</p><p>“All acts, resolutions and decisions made by the Senate during its session of June 3, 2026 are presumed to be official acts of the Philippine Senate following the presumption of regularity in the discharge of official functions,” the group added.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/6/legarda-number-needed-to-replace-senate-officers-panel-chairs-still-13-1336"><strong>Legarda: Number needed to replace Senate officers, panel chairs still 13</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;RECOGNIZED BY CSC&#x27;</strong></div><p>Gatchalian added that he met with the Senate labor union and assured them that salaries and bonuses of employees will remain unhampered and that administrative concerns such as an apparent issue on withholding taxes will be resolved.</p><p>“Inumpisahan na namin ‘yung pagpapalit ng signatories, sa bangko, sa mga payroll. Inumpisahan na namin ‘yan para tuluy-tuloy ang operation ng Senado,” he stated.</p><p>Gatchalian further noted that they have been coordinating with the Civil Service Commission to ensure “smooth transition as much as possible”.</p><p>Asked if he is the recognized Senate’s head by the CSC, Gatchalian responded in the affirmative.</p><p>“Tayo ang nire-recognize,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SPECIAL SESSION</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Gatchalian said they have yet to send a formal request to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to call for a special session to reconvene lawmakers and pass measures, saying that they have to discuss it first with all the senators.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/cayetano-legarda-willing-to-attend-special-session-if-marcos-calls-for-one-2050"><strong>Cayetano, Legarda willing to attend special session if Marcos calls for one</strong></a></div><p>“Hindi lang majority magde-decide dito kundi buong senado so we’ll reach out and see kung ano yung mga items na dapat pag-usapan,” he said.</p><p>Asked for a timeline for the request, the lawmaker said they have no target date yet.</p><p>Among those affected by the Senate impasse are the five Armed Forces of the Philippines generals awaiting confirmation before the Commission on Appointments.</p><p>Earlier, Malacañang said Marcos Jr. is inclined to call for a special session “as soon as the new leadership will send the official request”.</p><div> </div>

<p>Senator Sherwin Gatchalian maintained the legality of the June 3 Senate session where his group declared quorum and catapulted him as acting Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore but met with opposition from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s bloc.</p>

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian maintained the legality of the June 3 Senate session where his group declared quorum and catapulted him as acting Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore but met with opposition from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s bloc.

Gatchalian on Legarda’s ‘unconstitutional’ remark: Law experts’ opinions have more weight

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Gatchalian on Legarda’s ‘unconstitutional’ remark: Law experts’ opinions have more weight

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 06, 2026 07:29 PM PHT

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Updated June 07, 2026 12:30 AM PHT

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Sherwin Gatchalian

Loren Legarda

Alan Peter Cayetano

Senate

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