Chiz breaks deadlock: Quorum declared with 12 senators present

MANILA, Philippines (8th update 05:17 p.m.) — The three-day Senate impasse ended Wednesday, June 3, when majority member Sen. Chiz Escudero entered the plenary hall, joined minority senators already waiting there and gave the chamber the numbers it needed to move against its own leadership.

After two straight session days without convening, the Senate resumed with 12 senators present. A roll call was made, quorum was declared and all chamber positions were declared vacant, clearing the way for a reorganization.

The Senate president pro tempore post went to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who immediately became the presiding officer.

Gatchalian, as the new highest-ranking member of the chamber at session, could take over as acting Senate president, Sen. Erwin Tulfo said at a press conference after the session. No successor to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano was elected.

Referring to a 1949 Supreme Court ruling, Tulfo said at least 13 senators are required to install a Senate president, preventing the chamber from electing Cayetano’s successor with the numbers present. He said Cayetano remains in the top post.

The point, however, was later disputed by Sen. Ping Lacson, who, in a tweet, said Cayetano's position was among those declared vacant.

Not accurate. Sen Cayetano is no longer SP. With 12 senators present, a quorum was declared out of the base number of 22 since Sens de la Rosa and Estrada are outside the “coercive power” of the Senate (Avelino v Cuenco. GR No 2821). Hence, we voted to declare all positions…

Escudero’s surprise appearance at session was pivotal. Minority senators had been showing up for session since Monday, June 1, but the Senate could not proceed after the Cayetano-led majority bloc and presiding officers failed to appear for two consecutive days.

The stalemate began hours after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was arrested over a plunder case connected to the flood control scandal on Monday. Cayetano’s majority had been operating on a thin margin after Estrada’s detention and the continued absence of Sen. Bato dela Rosa, who remains to evade an International Criminal Court arrest.

With the Senate having failed to hold session, it left pending measures and appointments stalled as questions mounted over whether Cayetano still had the numbers to control the floor.

The chamber then declared a close to the 20th Congress, ahead of the scheduled adjournment sine die on Thursday.

New committee chairmanships were assigned among members of the new majority.

Sen. JV Ejercito was named chair of the Finance Committee, while Sen. Tito Sotto was assigned the Committees on National Defense and Security, and Peace, Unification and Reconciliation.

Sen. Ping Lacson will lead the Committees on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, and Accounts. Sen. Erwin Tulfo was assigned the Blue Ribbon Committee and Social Justice, while Sen. Raffy Tulfo will chair Public Services.

Sen. Bam Aquino was named chair of Basic Education, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan of Agriculture, Sen. Risa Hontiveros of Health and Demography, Sen. Lito Lapid of Games and Amusement, Sen. Chiz Escudero of Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, and Sen. Migz Zubiri of Foreign Relations and Rules.

In a statement after the session, Escudero said the Senate impasse had become "untenable and unacceptable," arguing that the chamber’s mandate should come before factional loyalties.

"This is not a political contest. I am not taking sides. I am taking a stand for the Senate," Escudero said. "My allegiance is not to any faction, personality, group or alliance."

Escudero said his move should not be read as a matter of "loyalty, betrayal, or choosing one group over the other," but as a question of duty to the institution.

"Hindi ito usaping pampulitika. Wala akong sinasamahan o iniiwanang grupo, pangkat o paksyon," he said. "Ngunit hindi pwedeng manatili tayo sa ganitong sitwasyon. Ang naaapektuhan na ay ang mismong kakayahan ng Senado na gampanan ang kaniyang tungkulin sa bayan."

(This is not a political issue. I am not joining or leaving any group, bloc or faction. But we cannot remain in this situation. What is already being affected is the Senate’s ability to perform its duty to the nation.) — reports from Ian Laqui, Renalyn Ramirez, Martin Ramos, Rosette Adel and Camille Diola  

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article reported that Alan Peter Cayetano had been ousted as Senate president after all chamber positions were declared vacant. Sen. Erwin Tulfo later said the 12-member quorum was not enough to elect a new Senate president, and Cayetano remains at the helm. Sen. Ping Lacson, however, issued a separate remark on the matter. The report has been updated to reflect these.

abtestabtest Article II starts: Unexplained wealth charge, P6.77-B record at Duterte trial 1 day ago Bank records, SALNs and tax documents take center stage Monday. Headlines Ex-justice: VP may be removed for hiding assets By Marc Jayson Cayabyab | 9 hours ago Impeachable officials like Vice President Sara Duterte may be removed from office for “intentional concealment”... Headlines Senate OKs 5-year barangay, SK term bill By Marc Jayson Cayabyab | 9 hours ago The Senate yesterday passed on third and final reading a bill seeking to fix the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan... Headlines Marcos on Sara tirades: You can’t force anyone to love you By Alexis Romero | 9 hours ago  Not even the most powerful man in the land can demand affection. Headlines Defense questions ex-Sandigan presiding justice as witness By Bella Cariaso | 9 hours ago The defense panel has questioned the decision of the prosecution to present retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo... Headlines Latest More in Headlines LIVE Coverage: Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, Sept. 15 US eyes Taiwan role in Luzon corridor's chip, AI push Romualdez moved to Payatas jail, arraignment set Sept. 16 BARMM holds first parliamentary polls in shadow of violence abtest BOC, PDEA uncover 15 boxes of illegal drugs from Canada By Rudy Santos | 9 hours ago The Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency intercepted yesterday over P199.7 million worth... Headlines Sandigan orders Quezon City jail transfer for Romualdez By Daphne Galvez | 9 hours ago With assurance by doctors that there was “no imperative need” for continued hospital confinement for former speaker... Headlines FLP to honor law scholars, MBA fellows, dissertation writing winners 9 hours ago The Foundation for Liberty & Prosperity will celebrate the newest recipients of its academic awards on Sept. 16 at... Headlines BIR scraps VAT on system loss charge By Aubrey Rose Inosante | 9 hours ago The Bureau of Internal Revenue has formally removed the value-added tax on the allowable system loss charge in electricity... Headlines 2 areas in BARMM placed under Comelec control By Rhodina Villanueva | 9 hours ago Two areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were placed under the control of the Commission on Elections following... Headlines Recommended Pangulo, VP bawal sa negosyo – Ex-Sandiganbayan Chief September 15, 2026 - 12:00am Mahigpit na ipinagbabawal sa Pangulo at Bise Presidente ang pakikilahok sa negosyo dahil mas malaki ang posibilidad ng pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan dahil sa kanilang posisyon. HeadlinesSARA DUTERTE 3 dating SC Justices, haharap sa impeachment September 15, 2026 - 12:00am Nakatakdang humarap sa Senate impeachment court  sa Miyerkules ang tatlong retiradong Supreme Court (SC) Justices upang resolbahin ang 16 botong threshold para mahatulan si Vice President Sara Duterte ...r HeadlinesIMPEACHMENT EDITORYAL — Bilang ng mga ­senador na hahatol kay VP Sara September 15, 2026 - 12:00am LABING-ISA at hindi 10 ang boto ng mga senador na kakailanganin para baguhin ang patakaran sa paghatol kay Vice President Sara Duterte. Ito ang sinabi ni Atty. Reginald Tongol, tagapagsalita ng ­Senate impeachment...r HeadlinesSARA DUTERTE VP Sara, plinano na umupong presidente – Palasyo 2 days ago Binuweltahan ng Malacañang si Vice President Sara Duterte matapos niyang banatan si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.... HeadlinesSARA DUTERTE ‘Ebidensya sa impeachment vs VP Sara, solido’ September 13, 2026 - 12:00am Sinagot ni House prosecutor at Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon ang naging pahayag ni Vice President Sara Duterte na walang matibay na ebidensya laban sa kaniya kaugnay sa ginawagang paglilitis sa Senate impeachment...r Headlines. TERRY RIDON next Recommended Pangulo, VP bawal sa negosyo – Ex-Sandiganbayan Chief Mahigpit na ipinagbabawal sa Pangulo at Bise Presidente ang pakikilahok sa negosyo dahil mas malaki ang posibilidad ng pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan dahil sa kanilang posisyon. 9 hours ago SARA DUTERTE 3 dating SC Justices, haharap sa impeachment Nakatakdang humarap sa Senate impeachment court  sa Miyerkules ang tatlong retiradong Supreme Court (SC) Justices upang resolbahin ang 16 botong threshold para mahatulan si Vice President Sara Duterte  kaugnay ng rekisitos na 2/3 na boto ng 24 miyembro ng Senado. 9 hours ago IMPEACHMENT EDITORYAL — Bilang ng mga ­senador na hahatol kay VP Sara LABING-ISA at hindi 10 ang boto ng mga senador na kakailanganin para baguhin ang patakaran sa paghatol kay Vice President Sara Duterte. Ito ang sinabi ni Atty. Reginald Tongol, tagapagsalita ng ­Senate impeachment court. 9 hours ago SARA DUTERTE VP Sara, plinano na umupong presidente – Palasyo Binuweltahan ng Malacañang si Vice President Sara Duterte matapos niyang banatan si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at nanawagan ng pagbibitiw nito. 2 days ago SARA DUTERTE ‘Ebidensya sa impeachment vs VP Sara, solido’ Sinagot ni House prosecutor at Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon ang naging pahayag ni Vice President Sara Duterte na walang matibay na ebidensya laban sa kaniya kaugnay sa ginawagang paglilitis sa Senate impeachment court. 2 days ago . TERRY RIDON OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!