Now that Alan Peter Cayetano is no longer Senate President and the chamber’s top post is temporarily vacant following Wednesday’s leadership change, it is time for the Senate to get back to work, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.
Lacson said a quorum of 12 out of 22 senators was declared as Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada were outside the Senate’s “coercive power,” allowing the chamber to elect Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President.
“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),” he said on X.
“Hence, we voted to declare all positions vacant, although we could not yet elect a new Senate President because we lacked the 13 votes required under the Constitution,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: Ngayong Hindi na Senate President si Cayetano, Panahon Nang Magbalik-Trabaho ang Senado
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…— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) June 3, 2026
Under Avelino v Cuenco, the base number to determine a quorum may be adjusted based on the “coercive power” doctrine – or whose attendance in the Senate cannot be compelled.
Dela Rosa is in hiding as he faces arrest due to a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Estrada was arrested last Monday by virtue of a warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan for plunder in connection with the flood control scandal.
However, Lacson said they could not yet elect a new Senate President for now because 13 votes – or a majority of 24 – are needed under the Constitution.
Under Art. VI, Sec. 16, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution, “The Senate shall elect its President and the House of Representatives its Speaker, by a majority vote of all its respective Members.”
‘Back to work’
Meanwhile, Lacson said the Senate needs to get back to work following the leadership change that finally ended a stalemate between the minority and majority blocs.
He said this includes conducting committee hearings on key bills while the Senate is now in recess.
“Marami kaming nakabinbing bills na priority measure. Ito gusto namin tapusin para pagbalik natin sa second regular session meron na kaming matackle sa floor (We have many pending priority bills and measures. We want to tackle them so when the second regular session comes, we would be ready to tackle some of them on the floor),” he said.
Lacson also said return towards normalcy is welcome because the Senate was wasting P25 million in public funds a day without accomplishing anything during the three-week deadlock.
“Hindi pa tapos ang controversy (The controversy isn’t over), we expect they will not go down without a fight,” he said, but added the new majority led by Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian is recognized by the House of Representatives and Malacanang.
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Lacson: Ngayong Hindi na Senate President si Cayetano, Panahon Nang Magbalik-Trabaho ang Senado
Ngayong hindi na Senate President si Alan Peter Cayetano at bakante sa ang pinakamataas na posisyon sa Senado kasunod ng pagbabago sa liderato ng kapulungan nitong Miyerkules, panahon na para muling magtrabaho ang Senado, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.
Ani Lacson, idineklara ang quorum na 12 mula sa kabuuang 22 senador dahil sina Senador Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa at Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada ay nasa labas ng “coercive power” ng Senado – at dahil dito, nahalal si Sherwin Gatchalian bilang Senate President Pro Tempore at acting Senate President.
“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),” aniya sa X.
“Hence, we voted to declare all positions vacant, although we could not yet elect a new Senate President because we lacked the 13 votes required under the Constitution,” dagdag niya.
Sa ilalim ng Avelino v. Cuenco, maaaring iakma ang base number na ginagamit sa pagtukoy ng quorum batay sa doktrina ng “coercive power” — o kung sinu-sino ang mga miyembrong hindi maaaring pilitin ng Senado na dumalo sa sesyon.
Nagtatago si Dela Rosa habang hinaharap niya ang posibilidad ng pag-aresto batay sa warrant na inilabas ng International Criminal Court kaugnay ng kampanya kontra ilegal na droga ng administrasyong Duterte.
Samantala, inaresto si Estrada noong nakaraang Lunes sa bisa ng warrant na inilabas ng Sandiganbayan para sa kasong plunder kaugnay ng iskandalo sa flood control projects.
Gayunman, sinabi ni Lacson na hindi pa sila maaaring maghalal ng bagong Senate President sa ngayon dahil kailangan ang 13 boto – o majority base sa 24 senador – alinsunod sa Konstitusyon.
Sa ilalim ng Art. VI, Sec. 16, Paragraph 1 ng Saligang Batas, “The Senate shall elect its President and the House of Representatives its Speaker, by a majority vote of all its respective Members.”
‘Balik-Trabaho Na’
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na kailangang magbalik-trabaho na ang Senado kasunod ng pagbabago sa liderato na tuluyang nagtapos sa hidwaan sa pagitan ng minority at majority blocs.
Aniya, kabilang dito ang pagsasagawa ng mga pagdinig ng mga komite hinggil sa mahahalagang panukalang batas habang naka-recess ang Senado.
“Marami kaming nakabinbin bills na priority measure. Ito gusto namin tapusin para pagbalik natin sa second regular session meron na kaming matackle sa floor,” aniya sa panayam sa PRTV.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na malugod niyang tinatanggap ang pagbabalik sa normal na kalagayan dahil umaabot sa P25 milyon kada araw ang nagagastos na pondo ng bayan habang walang nagagawang makabuluhang trabaho ang Senado sa loob ng tatlong linggong deadlock.
“Hindi pa tapos ang controversy, we expect they will not go down without a fight,” aniya, ngunit idinagdag na kinikilala ng House of Representatives at Malacañang ang bagong mayorya na pinamumunuan ni Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian.
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