ICYMI: During the regular plenary session this afternoon, supporters of VP Sara Duterte and Sen. Bato dela Rosa rallied outside the Senate building.

The rallyists have consistently showed up since Bato's alleged escape from the senate complex in the early morning of Thursday, May 14, following reported gunshots in the building. The group said that they are there to rally against corruption and will be there "until the mess in the senate is fixed". ("Hangga't maayos na ang gulo sa Senado")

HOUSE OKS MARCOS SR. DAY HOLIDAY IN DICTATOR'S HOME PROVINCE ILOCOS NORTE

The House of Representatives passes on final reading Majority Leader Sandro Marcos' bill declaring September 11 a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte, to be known as "President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Day." September 11 is the birth anniversary of Sandro's grandfather, the late dictator who placed the country under Martial Law.

Other primary authors of the bill include congressmen Angelo Marcos Barba and Florencio Miraflores. @here

House OKs 'anti-fake news' bill on 2nd reading

The House passes on second reading on Wednesday midnight, May 27, a bill seeking to curb the deliberate spread of false information.

The House has yet to upload online even the committee report on House Bill No. 9465, but sponsors say it seeks to place accountability on digital platforms by requiring them to implement transparency reporting and appoint a liaison officer to coordinate with DICT. It also imposes the penalty of imprisonment against law violators.

Proponents say the bill protects freedom of expression by excluding satire, journalism, and good-faith mistakes, but Makabayan lawmakers Renee Co and Antonio Tinio worry that the bill will create a chilling effect.

The substitute bill was immediately elevated to the plenary on Tuesday night, May 26, after approval at the committee level on Tuesday morning. The measure passed via voice vote after two hours of debate.

Lacson: ‘When they in the majority play dirty, we in the minority will play it smart’

Senator Ping Lacson weighed in on the Senate minority walkout on Tuesday night, May 26, which was prompted by the majority bloc’s move to “railroad” a motion to amend the rules to allow online voting in Senate proceedings.

“Senate minority walkout: We demonstrated how to score a victory by retreating. They may have superior numbers but we have the rules on our side. When they in the majority play dirty, we in the minority will play it smart,” Lacson said in a statement.

Zubiri: Even cancer-stricken Miriam Defensor Santiago did not seek exemption from Senate rules

Senator Migz Zubiri reiterated that allowing senators virtual participation in Senate proceedings will “make a mockery of the Senate.”

He noted that even the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago did not seek exemption from Senate rules when she got diagnosed with cancer. The only exception, he said, would be during times of war or pandemic as provided under the current rules.

REPORTER’S NOTES: Senate minority offers preview of what 2028 anti-Duterte coalition could look like

This is perhaps the strongest and most coordinated Senate minority that the Philippines has seen in recent memory. 

A collective walkout on the Senate floor is rare. Yet that was exactly what unfolded Tuesday night, after senators from the minority bloc refused to cave in to the majority’s apparent railroading of a new rule that would allow absentee members to cast a vote remotely. Senator Erwin Tulfo even said the quiet part out loud: the proposal could benefit colleagues from the majority who may soon face the risk of arrest.

What makes the 11-member minority bloc striking is the range of political forces now aligned, at least temporarily.

Senators Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino represent the traditional opposition associated with the clout of former vice president Leni Robredo’s “Kakampink” movement. Senators Tito Sotto, Ping Lacson, Erwin Tulfo, and Raffy Tulfo were part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2025 senatorial slate. Senators Migz Zubiri, Win Gatchalian, and JV Ejercito are politicians who, at some point in their careers, benefited from their proximity to the Duterte camp but have since drifted away from it. And then there is Lito Lapid. @here

Marcoleta-led Senate subpanel to resume flood control probe next week

The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee led by Rodante Marcoleta will resume its investigation into the multi-billion corruption in flood control projects on Thursday, June 4.

Marcoleta previously chaired the Senate blue ribbon committee, which is now headed by Pia Cayetano.

Chiz Escudero and Jinggoy Estrada — both implicated in the flood control controversy — also sit as members of the blue ribbon committee.

Here’s the calendar of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. @here  

Citizen’s network formed to monitor Sara Duterte impeachment trial

A broad coalition of students, academics, lawyers, civil society groups, and concerned citizens formed the “Bantay Senado” network on Monday, June 1, to monitor the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Bantay Senado network said it will help to ensure that the proceedings of the Senate impeachment court are constitutional, fair, and impartial.

Duterte’s impeachment trial is expected to begin on July 6. @here

Vice President Sara Duterte's legal team holds a press briefing. They sent Duterte's answer to the articles of impeachment to the Senate impeachment court. Watch the livestream @here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rULCPFj7LWY

In its reply sent to the Senate, Duterte's legal counsel Michael Poa says one of their plea is to dismiss the impeachment complaint, citing supposed infirmities in the proceeding at the House of Representative.

Only the 11 senators from the minority bloc are present in the Senate session hall as of 5:07 pm on Monday, June 1. The session was supposed to start at 5 pm. The majority senators have yet to arrive following the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Senate President Cayetano, allies to not attend Tuesday Senate session

Migz Zubiri tells the media that Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and other members of the majority bloc will not attend the session on Tuesday, June 2.

As of writing, only members of the minority attend the session.
@here

The Senate minority bloc calls for the resignation of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, June 1, for his supposed “abandonment of responsibility.” 

Here’s the full statement: 

What happened today was a clear abandonment of responsibility, a dereliction of duty, and a blatant disregard of the rules that govern this institution, because the Senate cannot be made to stop working simply because its presiding officer refuses to lead.

Under Rule XIV, Sec. 41 of the Rules of the Senate, the Senate President may postpone the holding of the session AFTER consultation with the Majority Leader AND the Minority Leader. That rule was violated. This is not merely a procedural lapse—it is a direct violation of the Rules of the Senate and a serious disrespect for the institution and the Filipino people.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano SHOULD RESIGN as he has shown that he cannot function as the leader of the Senate. @here

Suntay thanks lawmakers who moved not to suspend him
Congressman Bong Suntay, in a plenary speech defending his colleague Kiko Barzaga, thanks lawmakers who moved not to suspend him. Suntay has been facing an ethics case over his lewd remarks about Anne Curtis.
"Minsan din akong nakaranas dumaan sa ethics committee at nanganib na masuspinde dahil sa isang analogy na hinayag during a committee deliberation. Nagpapasalamat ako sa aking mga kasamahan na tumayo upang ako ay hindi mapatawan ng parusang suspensyon. At katulad ng pagtayo nila para maprotektahan ang aking karapatang magsalita, ako ngayon ay tumatayo para ipaglaban ang karapatan ng isa nating kasamahan dito sa Kamara," he says.
Rappler learned that the ethics committee has recommended community service and gender sensitivity training for Suntay. The panel has yet to publicly reveal its findings.