Manila: The Senate adjourned sine die after electing a new set of officers and committee chairpersons, with Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian named Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President following a two-day impasse.
According to Philippines News Agency, with 12 senators present, the chamber declared a quorum before Senator Vicente Sotto III moved to declare all elected positions in the Senate vacant. Sen. Francis Escudero, who belonged to the majority bloc, attended the session and helped the chamber reach the quorum needed to proceed.
The Senate then elected Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri as chairperson of the committee on rules, Renato Bantug Jr. as Senate Secretary, and retired Police Maj. Gen. Alfredo Sotto Corpuz as Sergeant-at-Arms. New committee chairpersons were also elected, including Sen. JV Ejercito for Finance; Sotto for National Defense; Senator Panfilo Lacson for Public Order and Accounts panels; Sen. Erwin Tulfo for Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations or the Blue Ribbon Committee, and Social Welfare and Rural Development; Sen. Raffy Tulfo for Public Services; Sen. Bam Aquino for Basic Education; Sen. Francis Pangilinan for Agriculture; Sen. Risa Hontiveros for Health; Sen. Lito Lapid for Games and Amusement; Escudero for Housing; and Zubiri for Foreign Relations.
Before adjournment, Gatchalian said the Senate was compelled to convene after then Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano failed to appear during the scheduled resumption of sessions on June 1 and 2. He mentioned that the Senate was on the brink of violating Article VI, Section 16(5) of the Constitution, which bars either chamber from adjourning for more than three days without the consent of the other house. The quorum of 12 was based on the majority of 22 senators over whom the Senate could obtain jurisdiction, citing the Supreme Court ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco and a 2015 Senate precedent.
The Senate also adopted a Proposed Resolution 432 amending Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials to provide for the election of a presiding officer in cases not involving the President of the Philippines.
In a separate statement, Escudero stated that the Senate impasse had become 'untenable and unacceptable,' emphasizing that his decision was not about joining any faction but about protecting the institution. He clarified that his stance was for the Senate's ability to perform its duty to the people, rather than political allegiance.
The Senate later adopted a concurrent resolution providing for the adjournment of the first regular session of the 20th Congress and informed the President and the House of Representatives of Gatchalian's election as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President.
