Who, what, where: A roundup of what's happening at the Senate

What's happening a day after the Philippine Senate leadership shakeup on Wednesday (June 3, 2026)? Here's a brief news roundup of the latest happenings at the Senate.

WHO

Who are the current Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore?

According to the new Senate majority bloc, the Acting Senate President and new Senate President Pro Tempore is Senator Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian.

READ: Senator Win Gatchalian elected Senate President Pro Tempore

Malacañang expressed support for the new Senate Leadership.

READ: Change of leadership in Senate was within rule of law — Palace

However, the previous Senate majority bloc insists the change in leadership was unconstitutional and that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is still the "legitimate" Senate President while Senator Loren Legarda is still the Senate President Pro Tempore.

READ: Senator Legarda: Senate takeover unconstitutional

Who are the senators belonging to the new majority bloc or "Solid Bloc 12?"

• Senator Sherwin Gatchalian

• Senator Migz Zubiri

• Senator Bam Aquino

• Senator JV Ejercito

• Senator Chiz Escudero

• Senator Risa Hontiveros

• Senator Panfilo Lacson

• Senator Lito Lapid

• Senator Kiko Pangilinan

• Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III

• Senator Erwin Tulfo

• Senator Raffy Tulfo

A screen grab of a photo posted on the official Facebook page of Senator Francis Pangilinan.

A file photo of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano courtesy of Reuters. Photo by Noel Celis. May 14, 2026

Who are the other 12 senators who did not vote for a new Senate President Pro Tempore on June 3, 2026?

• Senator Alan Peter Cayetano

• Senator Loren Legarda

• Senator Pia Cayetano

• Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa

• Senator Jinggoy Estrada

• Senator Bong Go

• Senator Imee Marcos

• Senator Rodante Marcoleta

• Senator Robin Padilla

• Senator Joel Villanueva

• Senator Camille Villar

• Senator Mark Villar

WHAT

What happened after the Senate elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as the new Senate President Pro Tempore on June 3, 2026?

Former Senate President moved to declare all elected positions in the Senate vacant.

A report of the Philippine News Agency said, the senators present during the hearing on June 3, 2026 elected the following:

New committee chairpersons

• Senator JV Ejercito for Finance;

• Senator Tito Sotto for National Defense;

• Senator Panfilo Lacson for Public Order and Accounts panels; 

• Senator Erwin Tulfo for Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations or the Blue Ribbon Committee, and Social Welfare and Rural Development; 

• Senator Raffy Tulfo for Public Services; 

• Senator Bam Aquino for Basic Education; 

• Senator Francis Pangilinan for Agriculture; 

• Senator Risa Hontiveros for Health; 

• Senator Lito Lapid for Games and Amusement; 

• Senator Chiz Escudero for Housing; and 

• Senator Migz Zubiri for Foreign Relations.

However, the other bloc of 12 senators are questioning the election of new committee chairpersons.

A screen grab of a photo posted on the official Facebook page of Senator Loren Legarda. The photo shows Legarda with Senator Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian.

In a post on her official Facebook page, Legarda said, "The Constitution is clear and does not leave room for interpretation.

The Senate is composed of 24 Senators, and a majority of 13 constitutes a quorum to do business. 13 votes to constitute a quorum. 13 votes to elect officers. A void election cannot create valid authority."

On her official Facebook page, Legarda wrote: "The Constitution is clear: the Senate President must be elected by a majority vote of all its members. The Rules of the Senate is even more instructive: the same majority-vote requirement applies to all Senate officers, including the Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate Secretary, and Sergeant-at-Arms."

"If 12 votes were not enough to elect a Senate President, how can the same 12 votes be enough to elect any other Senate officer?" she asked.

On June 3, the Senate bloc led by Gatchalian adjourned sine die or "indefinitely."

However, on June 4, the Senate bloc led by Cayetano proceeded to hold a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, presided over by Senator Pia Cayetano.

A report of the PNA said Gatchalian criticized that hearing as "unofficial and unauthorized."

FULL STATEMENT OF THE SOLID BLOC 12

Below is the text of the official statement of the Solid Bloc 12 on June 4, 2026.

"As life is harder now, the Filipino people deserve senators who show up for work, not for drama.

"The Senate’s mandate is to uphold the Constitution, check abuses, and pass laws for the people’s welfare. We urge our colleagues to abandon this bogus “hearing,” respect the rules, the quorum, and the duly constituted leadership of the Senate.

"They have refused to attend legitimately called sessions. Now, they are grandstanding in an unofficial and unauthorized gathering.

"What an insult to the institution and to the Filipino people who pay for every minute of this circus with their hard-earned taxes.

"Even worse, they are reportedly threatening Senate employees with cases if they are not obeyed. These are civil servants who are simply trying to do their jobs in accordance with the law and the duly constituted leadership of the Senate.

"As pointed out by Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian earlier today, there are no official Senate hearings scheduled for this morning, and that any so‑called “hearing” convened by Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Robin Padilla, Imee Marcos, and Rodante Marcoleta has no basis in the rules, calendar, or authority of the Senate.

"What we are seeing is a naked grab for power dressed up as “inquiry” and “oversight.” It is nothing more than a self-serving spectacle meant to cling to positions they have already lost in a valid and constitutional reorganization of the Senate.

"Instead of participating in regular sessions, working on laws that lower prices, create jobs, and protect farmers, workers, and vulnerable families, they have chosen to waste public funds and public time to advance their own political agenda.

"Hindi dasurb ng taumbayan ang ginagawa niyo. Ang dasurb ng nagpapasweldo sa atin, #TrabahoHindiDrama."

(As posted on the website of Senator Francis Pangilinan)

-Paraluman News