Chiz Escudero explains why he attended June 3 Senate session
Sen. Chiz Escudero, a member of the majority bloc, made an appearance in the plenary hall on June 3, paving the way for a session to be convened.
Members of the majority have skipped sessions for three days since June 1, following the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. While members of the bloc explained that their absence was to "protect the integrity" of ongoing investigations amid a change of numbers in the chamber, Escudero surprisingly attended the Wednesday session.
With a quorum of 12 senators, former Senate President Tito Sotto declared all seats vacant. Sen. Win Gatchalian was then elected Senate President Pro Tempore.
"The current impasse in the Senate is untenable and unacceptable," Escudero, who is also a former Senate President, said in a statement after the upper chamber adjourned sine die.
"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 that the current state of the Senate affects its ability to perform its duties to Filipinos.
"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."
With Escudero's presence, the present senators formed a quorum of 12.
"The quorum of 12 is based on a majority of 22 senators over whom jurisdiction can be obtained by the Senate," Gatchalian explained, citing Avelino v Cuenco, which states that a majority of 12 out of 23 members can constitute a constitutional majority of the Senate for quorum purposes.
The new Senate president pro tempore also shed light on why the minority convened on Wednesday.
"We are compelled to call a session to order today. After the Senate adjourned on May 26, 2026, session was scheduled to resume on Monday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 2. But the former Senate President failed to appear in both instances," said Gatchalian. Sen. Erwin Tulfo later clarified that Cayetano remains Senate President, as the minority did not have 13 votes to elect anew.
He then cited Art. 6, Sec. 16 (5) of the Constitution, which states that neither House shall adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other House during session. If the Senate did not convene on June 3, it would have been a Constitutional violation, as per Gatchalian.
On June 1, Cayetano called on the minority bloc to "let the Senate go quiet," as the upper chamber's independence is "being tested."
After the second day of the majority bloc's absence, the minority urged Cayetano to resign, as he "showed he cannot function as leader of the Senate anymore," Sen. Erwin Tulfo said.