This happened after one member of the old majority bloc and joined their camp during Wednesday’s plenary session.
On June 3, after a two-day gridlock, the Senate has resumed session as the 11-member minority bloc was joined by Senator Chiz Escudero, who is the lone member of the majority bloc to attend.
The afternoon’s session is crucial as it is the day when both Congress move to adjourn sine die, which means it is the last session until the both Houses convene on the day of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27.
With 12 senators in attendance after the roll call, Senator Win Gatchalian, who assumed duties as the presiding officer of the day, moved to declare a quorum.
He was then elected as the new Senate President Pro Tempore and assumed duties as the Acting Senate President.
All committee chairmanships were then declared vacant by the bloc, which have already become the new majority, as well as appointed the new Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. and retired Police Maj. Gen. Alfredo Sotto Corpuz as Sergeant-at-Arms.
The new committee chairpersons were also named.
- Sen. JV Ejercito – Finance
- Sen. Tito Sotto – National Defense
- Sen. Ping Lacson – Public Order and Accounts
- Sen. Erwin Tulfo – Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations or the Blue Ribbon Committee, and Social Welfare and Rural Development
- Sen. Raffy Tulfo – Public Services
- Sen. Bam Aquino – Basic Education
- Sen. Kiko Pangilinan – Agriculture
- Sen. Risa Hontiveros – Health
- Sen. Lito Lapid – Games and Amusement
- Sen. Chiz Escudero – Housing
- Sen. Migz Zubiri – Foreign Relations.
Meanwhile, before declaring the first regular session of the 20th Congress adjourn sine die, Senator Gatchalian explained their move to proceed with the session and the shakeup.
“We are compelled to call the session to order today (June 3, 2026). After the Senate adjourned on May 26, 2026 session was scheduled to resume on Monday, June 1, 2026 and on Tuesday, June 2, 2026,” he noted.
In the same speech, he also addressed Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the “former Senate President.”
“But the former Senate president failed to appear in both instances. Further, Article 6, Section 16(5) of the constitution provides that neither house shall, during sessions of Congress, adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other house.“
Gatchalian furthered, “The Senate has been adjourned and unable to resume session for the past two days, placing us on a brink of constitutional violation had we not convened today. Thus, in the absence of the duly consulted postponement and the continued absence of the former Senate president, former Senate president pro tempore, and members of the majority, we are compelled to call the session in order.“
NOT AN UNCHARTED MATTER
Meanwhile, in the Sotto-led bloc’s official statement, as published by Senator Kiko Pangilinan, they thanked their colleague, Senator Chiz Escudero, for attending the session despite the “boycott” of the Cayetano faction.
“We express our deep appreciation and commend the courageous decision of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to take the floor today and confront the issues facing the institution,” the group conveyed. “His action sent a clear message: that his commitment to the country, to the Senate, and to the Constitution would prevail above all else.”
The bloc also said that his presence enabled the Senate to “proceed with the discussion of matters that are too important to be left unresolved and too consequential to be set aside.”
Meanwhile, on the issue of the quorum, the group said that it is “not an uncharted matter,” citing the Supreme Court in 1949 in the Avelino v. Cuenco case, which recognized the principle that a quorum of 12 is determined based on the number of members who are legally able to discharge the functions of the Senate.
“There is likewise an institutional precedent. In 2015, the Senate recognized a quorum of 12 senators who were within its jurisdiction. The Senate continued to perform its constitutional duties because the work of government could not be placed on hold,” they added.
Currently, the Senate has 24 members. Although, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa has been in hiding amid an outstanding arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, while Senator Jinggoy Estrada was detained last Monday (June 1) following the Sandiganbayan’s fifth division order in connection with his plunder case.
“At a time when the nation faces pressing challenges, the Filipino people expect their Senate to work, deliberate, and fulfill its constitutional mandate. The institution cannot remain stalled by disagreements or uncertainty. Our duty is clear: to legislate, provide oversight, and serve the public interest,” the new majority bloc added.
For them, “The Filipino people deserve a Senate that shows up, does its job, and places public service above politics.“
“It is time for the Senate to move forward and get back to work for the Filipino people,” the statement concluded.
NOTHING IN RETURN
Meanwhile, according to Sen. Erwin Tulfo in a press conference shortly after the shakeup, Sen. Chiz Escudero’s attendance happened without any promises made to him.
According to him, “We are very fortunate that one of them, the member of the majority, deformed.”
He also noted that “Sen. Chiz Escudero do not conform and do not believe [in] what they are fighting for. He believes na ‘yong kanilang ipinaglalaban ay mali po. Na iyong kanilang pambo-boycott ay para ipagtanggol lamang ang ilan sa mga kasamahan nila.”
He also noted that the presence of the senator was made possible without the new majority making promises in return.
Meanwhile, over at his Facebook page, Escudero issued a statement, where he called the impasse in the Senate “untenable” and “unacceptable.”
“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,” he added.
Chiz, who also previously served as a Senate President, said: “This is not a political contest. I am not taking sides. 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.“
Furthermore, “Hindi ito usaping pampulitika. Wala akong sinasamahan o iniiwanang grupo, pangkat o paksyon. Hindi ko sinasabi na may mali o tama o may nagkulang o nagmalabis kaninuman. Ngunit hindi pwedeng manatili tayo sa ganitong sitwasyon. Ang naaapektuhan na ay ang mismong kakayahan ng Senado na gampanan ang kaniyang tungkulin sa bayan.“
It is for that reason that he made the decision to attend the plenary session and asked for understanding from the public as he hoped that the Senate will make it past these “challenging times.”
“Ito ang rason at dahilan ng aking pasya ngayong araw na ito. Hinihiling ko ang inyong pag-unawa sa amin, kasabay ng inyong panalangin para sa inyong Senado na malampasan ang hamon na ito at patuloy na magampanan namin ang aming tungkulin sa inyo at sa sambayanan.“
MALACAÑANG SUPPORTS GATCHALIAN’S ROLE AS ACTING SP
In a short statement read out by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, Malacañang backed the Sotto-led wing and the election of Senator Win Gatchalian as the new Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting SP.
“Ang nangyari sa senado ngayong hapon ay naayon sa batas at rule of law. Kinikilala at nirerespeto ng palasyo ang desisyon ng bagong mayorya at ang liderato acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian,” she said.
CAYETANO NOT BACKING DOWN
Meanwhile, in a Facebook livestream, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano insisted that he still remains the “legal” and “moral” leader of the upper chamber.
“Hindi po nila ako naalis… Wala pong ground para magkaroon ng acting president. This is an illegal coup d’état na may kasama sa pagbabasura ng Konstitusyon,” he also said.
Cayetano assumed the position in a coup that saw their faction oust Senator Tito Sotto from the position last May 11, with a total of 13 senators backing him including Senator Dela Rosa, who made his surprise return to the chamber after being in hiding for six months prior to that.