A political upheaval that took hold of the Philippine Senate on June 3, 2026 has swiftly descended into public controversy, with the bloc that wrestled control of the upper chamber spending its first two days adjourning plenary sessions, reshuffling leadership, and ordering staff to stay home — all while their rivals continued conducting legislative business as if the coup had never happened.
Days of Inaction Set the Stage for the June 3 Power Grab
The groundwork for the takeover was laid during two consecutive scheduled session days — June 1 (Monday) and June 2 (Tuesday) — when the Senate plenary failed to convene. The 11-senator group that would later declare itself the "new majority" had been publicly blaming Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, accusing him of deliberately preventing the chamber from conducting what they called "important legislative work for the people."
Everything shifted on June 3, the last session day before the constitutionally mandated sine die adjournment of Congress. The crucial turning point was the floor appearance of Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero — previously seen as aligned with Cayetano — which brought the bloc's physically present count to 12 senators. Citing the Supreme Court's landmark precedent in Avelino v. Cuenco, the group declared a valid quorum. Minority Leader Tito Sotto then moved to vacate all leadership positions except the Senate presidency itself.
Gatchalian Installed as Acting President; Tulfo Chairs Blue Ribbon
Following the reorganization, Sen. Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, replacing Sen. Loren Legarda. Under Senate rules, the Pro Tempore assumes acting Senate president duties in the absence of the duly elected president. Sen. Migz Zubiri was installed as Majority Floor Leader, while Sen. Erwin Tulfo was named chair of the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee, displacing Sen. Pia Cayetano from that post.
The bloc's 12-senator count, however, created a constitutional complication. Formally electing a new Senate president requires 13 votes, meaning the top post remains technically vacant rather than transferred. Despite this, Malacañang — through Press Officer Claire Castro — and the House of Representatives both extended recognition to Gatchalian's acting leadership, according to multiple reports on June 3.
Alan Peter Cayetano flatly rejected the entire exercise, denouncing it as an "illegal coup d'etat" and insisting his presidency remains intact. Legarda and Pia Cayetano also maintained they had not been lawfully removed, citing the bloc's failure to meet the 13-member quorum threshold required by the Constitution.
Work-From-Home Order Triggers Online Backlash
One of Gatchalian's earliest acts as acting Senate president was the issuance of a memorandum authorizing all Senate Secretariat and Senate Proper offices to work remotely on June 4. The directive cited the need for committee reorganization and the absence of scheduled official business. The memo also stated, according to reports, that it was intended to preserve the neutrality of Senate staff and protect employee morale — and included assurances that workers who complied would not be treated as absent without official leave (AWOL) or considered insubordinate.
Cayetano fired back the same night with a conflicting memorandum ordering Senate premises to remain open and directing that a previously scheduled hearing proceed as planned. The dueling orders left Senate employees effectively caught between two competing lines of authority, with no clear guidance on which directive carried legal weight.
The political optics proved deeply damaging. Commentators and critics on social media were quick to highlight the glaring contradiction: the same bloc that had spent days loudly accusing Cayetano of stalling "the people's business" responded to gaining power by immediately adjourning the chamber sine die and sending staff home — even as the very group they had displaced pressed forward with the legislative hearing the new majority had sought to cancel.
Rival Bloc Presses Ahead With Flood-Control Investigation
Despite Gatchalian's adjournment order and the competing memoranda, the Pia Cayetano-led panel proceeded with the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the morning of June 4. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta presided over the session, with Sens. Robinhood Padilla and Imee Marcos also in attendance.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla was reported to have positioned himself at the lobby entrance in an apparent bid to block access to the hearing room, sparking a confrontation. Tulfo's camp declared the session illegitimate and announced plans to hold its own version of the Blue Ribbon hearing on June 8.
At the heart of the June 4 hearing were 18 former Marines and soldiers represented by attorney Levito "Levi" Baligod. The group submitted a consolidated affidavit alleging they had served as drivers, security escorts, and cash couriers — referred to internally as "bagmen" — for fugitive former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co. According to the affidavit and testimony as reported across multiple outlets on June 4, the witnesses alleged they transported cash-stuffed luggage, called "maletas," to private homes, the House of Representatives compound, and a Forbes Park townhouse. The total amount allegedly involved in flood-control kickbacks was placed at approximately ₱805 billion.
Affidavit Implicates Wide Range of Senior Officials
The consolidated affidavit, as detailed during the June 4 hearing, names an extensive list of individuals as 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 multiple House figures — among them 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 Catholic priest Fr. Flavie Villanueva.
All of the allegations remain unproven. Every individual named has categorically denied the claims, with many characterizing the affidavit as "recycled," fabricated, and driven by political motives. Sotto, according to reports, specifically flagged inconsistencies in the stated per-suitcase cash figures as evidence of an unreliable account. Several of those named — including Sotto and Tulfo — have signaled plans to file libel and perjury cases against the witnesses. Critics of the affidavit have further noted that at least one lawmaker named — de Lima — was not in office during certain portions of the alleged period, which the accused cite as additional proof of fabrication.
NBI Discloses Allegation That Witnesses Were Each Paid ₱5 Million
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 provide their testimony, according to reports from the hearing. That allegation also remains uncorroborated. Separately, the Philippine Navy had previously disputed the military service records of several of the 18 individuals, questioning whether some of them had genuine backgrounds as Marines.
Legal Expert Warns of Looming Supreme Court Battle
Retired Judge Meinrado Paredes publicly warned that the standoff — with Cayetano refusing to concede the legitimacy of the Gatchalian bloc and the new majority pressing ahead regardless — carries the real potential of escalating into a constitutional crisis before the Supreme Court. With two factions each claiming lawful authority over the Senate and issuing contradictory directives, legal observers say the situation may ultimately require judicial resolution to settle.
As of this report, neither side has shown any sign of backing down, and the competing claims over Senate leadership remain unresolved.
Source: Originally reported by Inquirer.net / Philippine Daily Inquirer