IBP affirms legitimacy of Senate quorum, leadership change

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) released a statement on June 4, saying that the quorum of 12 senators that reconstituted the Senate and elected Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as President Pro Tempore and interim Senate President was lawful and valid.

The IBP cited Article VI, Section 16 (2), of the 1987 Constitution and the 1949 case of Avelino v. Cuenco in affirming the shakeup of the Senate, emphasizing the legal basis for the decision to shed light on the dispute.

The ruling stated that the election of the Senate President was “essentially one that depends exclusively upon the will of the majority of the senators, the rule of the Senate about tenure of the President of that body being amendable at any time by that majority”.

“And at any session hereafter held with 13 or more senators, in order to avoid all controversy arising from the divergence of opinion here about quorum and for the benefit of all concerned, the said 12 senators who approved the resolutions herein involved could ratify all their acts and thereby place them beyond the shadow of a doubt,” the SC ruling read.

The dispute between the two Senate factions caused the Cayetano-led block to not attend plenary for three consecutive days. 

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and his 10 allied senators in the majority bloc have failed to show up since June 1, after being sidelined due to legal issues, leaving the 24-member chamber with just 22 active members.

The primary issue was that the quorum of 12 was invoked following the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Monday over his plunder case, and the hiding of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa who is being sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Gatchalian said they were obliged to convene the Senate, highlighting that Cayetano’s bloc boycotted the Senate.

“The chair would like to state for the record that we are compelled to call the session to order today. After the Senate adjourned on May 26, 2026, the 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,” Gatchalian said.

The standoff ended when Sen. Francis Escudero, who had previously aligned with Cayetano, showed up in the Senate, providing the quorum needed to hold a session before Congress goes into a week-long recess.

“The current impasse in the Senate is untenable and unacceptable,” Escudero stated.

In a Facebook post, Cayetano emphasized that he remains the Senate President, and added that his bloc does not recognize changes in the committee leadership of his rival senators.

The new majority bloc emphasized that 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,” it indicated.