MANILA — The self-declared "new majority" that wrested control of the Philippine Senate on June 3, 2026 is facing sharp criticism online after its first 48 hours in power produced a reorganized leadership, a sine die adjournment, and a work-from-home order for Senate staff — even as the bloc it displaced pressed ahead with a flood-control hearing it had long billed as "the people's business."
The rapid sequence of events — a surprise quorum declaration, leadership reshuffling, immediate adjournment, and a directive sending bureaucrats home — fueled public ridicule and prompted warnings from legal observers that the standoff could escalate into a constitutional crisis before the Supreme Court.
Two Days of No Sessions Preceded the June 3 Takeover
For two consecutive scheduled session days — Monday, June 1, and Tuesday, June 2 — the Senate plenary did not convene. The 11-member group that would become the "new majority" blamed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, accusing him of failing to appear and leaving "important legislative work for the people" stalled. The minority publicly cast Cayetano as derelict for refusing to call the chamber to order.
That framing reversed sharply on June 3, the final session day before the constitutionally scheduled sine die adjournment of Congress. The pivotal development was the plenary appearance of Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero — until then considered aligned with Cayetano — which gave the bloc 12 senators physically present on the floor.
Citing the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco, the group declared a quorum. Minority Leader Tito Sotto then moved to vacate all leadership posts with the exception of the Senate presidency itself.
Gatchalian Named Acting Senate President, Tulfo Gets Blue Ribbon
Sen. Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, replacing Sen. Loren Legarda. Under Senate rules, the Pro Tempore is deemed the acting Senate president in the absence of the duly elected president. Sen. Migz Zubiri was named Majority Floor Leader, and Sen. Erwin Tulfo was installed as chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, taking over from Sen. Pia Cayetano.
The bloc cannot, however, formally remove Alan Peter Cayetano from the Senate presidency. The Constitution requires 13 votes to elect a Senate president, and with only 12 senators in hand, the top post remains technically vacant rather than transferred. Malacañang, through Press Officer Claire Castro, and the House of Representatives nonetheless extended recognition to Gatchalian's acting leadership.
Cayetano flatly rejected the takeover, calling it an "illegal coup d'etat" and insisting he remains the legitimate Senate president. Legarda and Pia Cayetano likewise maintained they were not validly removed from their respective posts, pointing to the absence of a 13-member quorum as required by the Constitution.
Work-From-Home Memo Draws Public Ridicule
Among Gatchalian's first official acts as acting Senate president was a memorandum authorizing all Senate Secretariat and Senate Proper offices to work from home on June 4, citing the need for committee reorganization and the absence of scheduled official business. The memo further stated that the directive was aimed at preserving the neutrality of the Senate bureaucracy and protecting the safety and morale of staff, with assurances that employees would not be deemed absent without official leave (AWOL) or insubordinate for complying.
Cayetano issued a conflicting memorandum the same night, ordering Senate premises kept open and directing that a previously scheduled hearing proceed as planned. The dueling directives left Senate employees, in the words of one report, "in limbo" over which order to follow and which authority to recognize.
The optics proved damaging online. Critics and social media commentators noted the apparent contradiction: the bloc that had spent days publicly invoking "the business of the people" and accusing Cayetano of stalling legislative work responded to obtaining power by adjourning sine die and sending staff home — even as the rival bloc it displaced pressed on with the very hearing it had sought to cancel.
Cayetano Bloc Proceeds With Blue Ribbon Flood-Control Hearing
Despite the competing memos and the Gatchalian bloc's adjournment, the Pia Cayetano-led panel went ahead with the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the morning of June 4. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta presided, with Sens. Robinhood Padilla and Imee Marcos also present.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla was reported to have stood at the lobby entrance in an apparent attempt to block entry to the hearing, triggering a confrontation. Tulfo's camp branded the session illegitimate and announced it would hold its own version of the hearing on June 8.
At the center of the hearing were 18 former Marines and soldiers represented by attorney Levito "Levi" Baligod. The group submitted a consolidated affidavit alleging they served as drivers, security personnel, and "bagmen" for fugitive former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co, delivering cash-stuffed luggage — referred to as "maletas" — allegedly totaling some ₱805 billion in flood-control kickbacks.
According to the affidavit and testimony reported across multiple outlets on June 4, the cash deliveries were made to private residences, the House of Representatives compound, and a Forbes Park townhouse.
Affidavit Names Senior Officials and Lawmakers as Alleged Recipients
The consolidated affidavit, as reported during the June 4 hearing, names an extensive list of alleged recipients of cash from Co. Those named include President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, presidential son and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Sens. Tito Sotto and Erwin Tulfo, and House figures Leila de Lima, France Castro, Terry Ridon, Gerville Luistro, Benny Abante, Zia Adiong, Jose Alvarez, Ace Barbers, Joel Chua, Janette Garin, Dan Fernandez, and Stella Quimbo, as well as priest Fr. Flavie Villanueva.
All allegations in the affidavit remain unproven. Every individual named has flatly denied the claims, characterizing them as "recycled," fabricated, and politically motivated. Several have dared the accusers to produce documentary evidence, and some — including Sotto and Tulfo — have signaled plans to file libel and perjury cases against the witnesses.
Sotto specifically pointed to shifting figures in the affidavit regarding the alleged per-suitcase cash amounts as evidence of inconsistency. Critics of the affidavit have also noted that it names long-standing administration critics alongside administration allies, and lists at least one lawmaker — de Lima — who was not in office during portions of the alleged period, a point the accused cite as further evidence of fabrication.
NBI Chief Cites Claim That Witnesses Were Paid ₱5 Million Each
Adding a further layer of complexity to the proceedings, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag disclosed on June 4 that he had received information alleging former Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor paid each of the 18 witnesses ₱5 million to deliver their testimony. That allegation likewise remains uncorroborated as of this report.
The Philippine Navy has separately disputed the credibility of several of the 18 individuals, with earlier statements questioning whether a number of them had genuine service records as Marines.
Legal Observer Warns of Potential Supreme Court Escalation
Retired Judge Meinrado Paredes warned publicly that the competing claims of Senate authority — with Cayetano refusing to recognize the Gatchalian bloc's legitimacy and the new majority pressing ahead regardless — could land before the Supreme Court and escalate into a full-blown constitutional crisis.
As of June 5, 2026, the Senate remains effectively split, with two competing leadership structures each asserting authority over the chamber's business. The Tulfo-led Blue Ribbon panel has scheduled its own hearing for June 8, while the Cayetano bloc has given no indication it intends to stand down or seek a negotiated resolution to the impasse.
The Supreme Court has not, as of this report, been formally petitioned to intervene, but legal observers say the dueling memos, competing committee hearings, and unresolved question of the Senate presidency make judicial resolution increasingly likely.
Photo credit: Photo from Senate of the Philippines / Official Facebook Page