By: JANTZEN ALVIN
After two days of non-session after majority Senators were a no show, the Senate was finally able to convene a session on Wednesday, following the appearance of Sen. Francis Escudero who also joined the minority bloc, making its members 12.
In a statement, Escudero said “the Senate impasse had become “untenable and unacceptable.
Saying that his decision to join the minority was not about joining any faction but about protecting the institution, Escudero stated: “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.”
He added: “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.”
Yesterday’s session ended a two-day impasse caused by the decision of the majority bloc led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to boycott the Senate sessions, starting on the day that Senator Jinggoy Estrada was arrested on plunder charges.
During the Wednesday session, the Senators present were able to adjourn sine die, declare all elected positions vacant and elect a new set of officers and committee chairpersons.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was named Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President and was given the oath by Senator Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III. Alongside this, Senator Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri as chairperson of the committee on rules; Renato Bantug, Jr. as Senate Secretary and retired Police Maj. Gen. Alfredo Sotto Corpuz as the new Sergeant-at-Arms, replacing Ma O Aplasca who is under suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman following the shooting incident in the Senate.
Meanwhile, elected as new committee chairpersons were Sen. Erwin Tulfo for Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations or the Blue Ribbon Committee, and Social Welfare and Rural Development; Sen. JV Ejercito for Finance; Sotto for National Defense; Senator Panfilo Lacson for Public Order and Accounts panels; ; Sen. Raffy Tulfo for Public Services; Sen. Bam Aquino for Basic Education; Sen. Francis Pangilinan for Agriculture; Sen. Risa Hontiveros for Health; Sen. Lito Lapid for Games and Amusement; Escudero for Housing; and Zubiri for Foreign Relations.
After assuming post, Gatchalian said: “After the Senate adjourned on May 26, 2026, session was scheduled to resume on Monday, June 1, 2026 and on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. But the former Senate President failed to appear in both instances.”
The Senate was already on the brink of violating Article VI, Section 16(5) of the Constitution, which bars either chamber from adjourning for more than three days during session without the consent of the other house, he added.
