Members of the Senate majority bloc failed to attend plenary sessions from Monday, June 1, to Tuesday, June 2, leaving only the minority senators present inside the session hall.

While the minority senators waited for Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and the majority senators to show up for the Monday session, the air conditioning and the Wi-Fi were shut down, according to Sen. Raffy Tulfo. The situation echoes a similar 2020 incident at the House of Representatives, when Cayetano faced a potential ousting from his position as a House Speaker. 

“Parliamentary tool” used as strategy 

Instead of attending the 3 p.m. session on Tuesday, Cayetano, on Facebook Live, justified the two-day “boycott” as a form of protest against a “puppet Senate”.

He described the majority’s absence as a “parliamentary tool” to maintain control of key committees, comparing it to the minority's walkout on May 26. 

Call for resignation

Cayetano’s absence from the plenary prompted the minority bloc to call for his resignation as Senate President. 

The minority group described the boycott as an “abandonment of responsibility, dereliction of duty, and a blatant disregard of the rules that govern this institution,” due to the his absence and refusal to preside. 

They pointed to Rule XIV, Section 41 of the Rules of the Senate, noting that any postponement of a session by the Senate President requires prior consultation with the majority leader and the minority leader.

Members of the bloc criticized Cayetano for breaking the rule, stating it as a serious disrespect to the institution and the Filipino citizens. 

Furthermore, Sen. Raffy Tulfo condemned Cayetano’s Facebook appearance, criticizing his decision to address issues on social media rather than attending the session. 

Majority Bloc’s response

On the other hand, the majority bloc defended its absence, insisting it was to “protect the integrity of ongoing Senate investigations.”

In a statement, the majority said the issue was not the Senate presidency “but whether ongoing investigations, particularly those involving allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds, will be allowed to continue without interruption or political interference.”

Moreover, they stated that the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and the absence of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa have “created an unusual situation in which the balance of votes inside the Senate has shifted.”

Although these developments may not be enough to replace the Senate leadership, the bloc said it could affect the vote to change committee leadership, granting the minority “control” of key committees.

Senate impasse 

The Senate’s inability to hold sessions has left several measures pending, including Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan’s agriculture-related bills and Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers and the Anti-Hospital Detention Bill. 

Additionally, confirmation hearings for military generals were also affected by the lack of quorum, stalling the promotion of five generals from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. responded to the impasse earlier on Wednesday by urging the Senate majority to return to work. He warned that the continued absence obstructs legislative functions and prevents the government from addressing urgent national issues.

Back in session

The three-day Senate impasse ended on Wednesday, June 3, after Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the lone member of the majority bloc, joined the minority senators in convening the session. 

According to Escudero, his reason for attending the last session was merely a duty to serve the Senate and the nation amid the current impasse that he described as “unacceptable.”

Escudero’s presence allowed the minority senators to reach a quorum of 12 needed to conduct the session and leadership reorganization, allowing Sen. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian to be elected as the new Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President. 

Following the appointment of a new set of committee chairpersons and officers, the Senate concluded its session, adjourning sine die.

Sine die refers to “the final adjournment of a legislative body, indicating no further meetings are scheduled.”

Change in Senate leadership

After the Senate leadership reorganization, Cayetano during a Facebook Live session said the Gatchalian election was an “illegal coup” intended to prevent the Senate blue ribbon panel’s flood control probe scheduled for Thursday, June 4, and prevent the invitation of 18 former Marines. 

Cayetano asserted his position as the “legitimate, legal, and moral Senate President,” however, the new majority bloc has now confirmed that he is no longer Senate President.

 "For clarity, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is no longer Senate President after the Senate, with 12 senators present and a quorum declared based on the recognized base number of 22 under the landmark Avelino vs. Cuenco case, voted to declare all positions vacant, including the presidency of the institution.” In a joint statement, the 12 senators of the majority bloc emphasized that while 13 votes are required to elect Gatchalian as the new Senate President, all positions are currently vacant.

This vacancy marks the end of the former leadership, and they asserted that Senate operations must now continue in the interest of the public.