The Senate’s failure to convene for a second straight day has left military appointments, citizenship bills and several priority measures hanging in the balance, as tensions over the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada continue to reverberate through the upper chamber.
On both Monday, June 1, and Tuesday, June 2, plenary sessions failed to proceed due to the absence of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and members of the majority bloc.
The impasse comes after Estrada was detained on plunder and graft charges. His arrest, coupled with the continued absence of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, reduced the majority bloc’s voting strength from 13 to 11 senators.
READ: Estrada detained in graft case | Pinoys join ‘Jinggoy’s Corruption vs You Through the Years Challenge’ with throwback posts on his past cases
While the majority stayed away, members of the minority bloc attended both scheduled sessions.
In a joint statement, the 11-member minority bloc, composed of Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, JV Ejercito, Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Lito Lapid, Raffy Tulfo and Erwin Tulfo, said it was prepared to conduct Senate business.
“The Solid Bloc 11 minority senators were present today for the 5 p.m. resumption of session, ready to work, ready to vote on pending bills and ready to keep the Senate running, but the majority led by SP Cayetano chose not to show up,” the Solid Bloc 11’s statement read.
“They did not even have the courtesy to inform us when they ignored the rules, and could not extend the basic decency of telling the minority that they had no intention of convening,” the senators continued.
The minority senators cited that several measures were left pending because of the majority’s absence, including the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, the Anti-Hospital Detention Bill, confirmation proceedings for military generals before the Commission on Appointments, and bills granting Philippine citizenship to Filipino-American wrestler Matthew James Ramos and San Miguel import Bennie Boatwright III.
The citizenship bills for Ramos and Boatwright were included in the June 1 agenda for plenary approval but could not be acted upon after the Senate failed to convene.
The citizenship bills for Fil-Am wrestler Matthew James Ramos and San Miguel import Bennie Boatwright are on the agenda for plenary approval this afternoon. However, the Senate session currently cannot begin due to the absence of Senate President Alan Cayetano and the majority… pic.twitter.com/Ge7E625iPM
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) June 1, 2026
Beyond legislation, concerns have also emerged over pending ad interim appointments.
Journalist Joseph Morong said some military officials are worried their appointments may expire if the Senate standoff continues.
“I was told that some generals are worried that their ad interim appointments will expire this week without being confirmed due to Senate leadership intramurals. One holds a critical command,” Morong posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The minority bloc blamed the deadlock on Estrada’s arrest.
“This is a boycott because of the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and the public should not be asked to believe another convenient line from a leadership that has repeatedly twisted the truth,” minority senators said in a joint statement.
The group also accused the majority of attempting to use the impasse to avoid a leadership test on the Senate floor.
“Ang Senado ay hindi pag-aari ng iisang may hawak ng gavel. Institusyon ito ng taumbayan at napakadaming mahalagang panukala ang nabibinbin dahil sa drama ng mayorya,” the minority said.
Cayetano, however, framed the issue as a question of institutional independence.
In a message addressed to minority senators, he argued that the Senate should be allowed to settle its internal affairs without outside interference.
“The Senate is a co-equal branch of government. It is not a prize to be claimed — by anyone,” Cayetano said.
He urged fellow senators to “stand for the Senate’s independence” and called on them to join “one deliberate act — to let the Senate go quiet.”
Cayetano’s colleagues in the minority disagreed. Lacson said the issue was not Senate independence but “dereliction of duty” by the majority bloc.
“Standing up for the Senate’s independence does not place SP Cayetano and any senator above the law. It has nothing to do with non-adherence to the rule of law,” the senator wrote on X Tuesday morning.
“Dereliction of duty will not solve this partisan gridlock. Its sole purpose is to hold legislation hostage,” he added.
Malacañang likewise questioned Cayetano’s take.
“Senate independence. Independence from what? Ano ba ang pinapalagan ni Senador Alan Cayetano?” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a briefing on Tuesday.
Castro also rejected attempts to link Estrada’s arrest to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying the serving of the warrant was part of a lawful process and had nothing to do with the president.
Meanwhile, ahead of the scheduled 3 p.m. plenary session on Tuesday, Sen. Erwin said he was hopeful members of the majority bloc would finally attend.
“Deterrent and at the same time magdarasal na sana pumasok sila dahil sayang ang sweldo,” Erwin said.
The majority bloc is composed of Senate President Alan Peter, Acting Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Robin Padilla, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Rodante Marcoleta, Estrada, Dela Rosa, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, Pia Cayetano and Loren Legarda.
Under the Republic Act No. 6758, or the Salary Standardization Law, senators are under Salary Grade 31. In 2026, the monthly basic salary for a government officials under this salary grade ranges from P300,961 342,310.
The majority bloc’s absence follows another disruption in the chamber on May 26, when minority senators walked out of a plenary session to protest a proposal that would allow virtual participation and electronic voting. The walkout resulted in a lack of quorum and forced the Senate to suspend proceedings.
RELATED:The one who stayed: Tito Sotto’s role when his minority colleagues walked out | Marcoleta’s ‘legal background’ jab at Hontiveros draws backlash
Last month, a Senate hearing was also canceled amid a leadership shake-up that ousted Sotto as Senate President and installed Cayetano as the chamber’s new leader. The cancellation left some farmers unable to attend despite their preparations.
Pangilinan, nonetheless assured a farmer advocate that he will continue pushing for advocacies on agriculture and fisheries following the incident.
READ: Pangilinan assures agri push as farmers’ Senate hearing canceled amid leadership shakeup
—Rosette Adel
