De Lima raises questions on Senate convening, House consent ahead of sine die adjournment

Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima told Rappler it is an open question whether the Senate must convene on the last day of session or secure the House of Representatives' consent if it decides not to meet, as the situation in the upper chamber offers "no precedent."

"Searching answers to these questions: How can Senate formally adjourn sine die if it doesn’t convene or hold plenary session today? How about the House of Representatives? Can it do so without a counterpart declaration from the Senate? Sine die adjournment pertains to or is a function of Congress, meaning, both Houses," De Lima asks.

Cayetano's 11-person majority boycotted the Senate on Monday, June 1, and Tuesday, June 2, leaving the 11-person minority without a quorum and a presiding officer. The last time the Senate convened was on Wednesday, May 27.

The 1987 Constitution states: "Neither House during the sessions of the Congress shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting."

Ortega: Senate will violate Constitution if it does not convene today without House's consent

Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega told Rappler the Senate could face constitutional questions if it still does not convene and has not obtained the House of Representatives' consent, citing the Constitution's restriction on either chamber adjourning for more than three days without the other's approval.

"My take, kung hindi pa rin magko-convene ang Senate at wala naman silang pahintulot mula sa Kamara, puwedeng sabihin na labag sa Konstitusyon dahil lumampas na sila sa three-day na adjournment," Ortega says.

International watchdog flags proposed anti-disinfo bill in the House

Global watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) sounds the alarm over the proposed anti-disinformation bill that has cleared debates in the House of Representatives and is scheduled for third reading before Congress adjourns. 

“The Philippines already has several laws that threaten free speech,”HRW Southeast Asia researcher Lian Buan said. “Adding this new bill onto that pile provides the government with sweeping powers to restrict speech that would further stifle internet freedom and the free exchange of ideas and opinions.” 

“Platforms would be required to coordinate with the DICT on takedown and moderation requests, without allowing for any form of multistakeholder oversight. This would increase the risk of government control of digital platforms, including major independent media outlets. Any person or entity, including the government, could make these requests, bill sponsors said during the plenary debates,” the group also added. 

The draft proposal includes provisions against troll farms, manipulated content, and foreign influence, while also imposing penalties for violations, but critics say the safeguards aren’t enough to prevent suppression government misuse and suppression of freedom of expression.

Ex-Taguig mayor Lino Cayetano is new PTV-4 general manager

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Taguig mayor Lino Cayetano as the new PTV-4 general manager, replacing Maria Lourdes Fagar. 

“Mayor Cayetano brings with him a rare wealth of experience from the media, the private and the public sector that would certainly take PTV 4 to greater heights in our ever-evolving multi-media landscape,” said Presidential Communications Office chief Dave Gomez.

Senator Win Gatchalian is the new Senate President Pro Tempore.
@here

Senator Chiz Escudero joins the minority bloc at the plenary session on June 3.

He said in a statement that the “current impasse in the Senate is untenable and unacceptable.” Here’s Escudero’s full statement:

Palace statement read by Claire Castro: “Ang nangyari sa Senado ngayong hapon ay naayon sa batas at rule of law. Kinikilala at nirerespeto ng Palasyo ang desisyon ng bagong mayorya at ang liderato ni acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.”

What a day for Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

1. Still the Senate President in principle, but lame duck since Senator Win Gatchalian holds the power.

2. Facing an obstruction of justice complaint with the Ombudsman due to Senator Bato dela Rosa’s escape.

I've been wondering bakit hindi pa tumatalon si Sen. Loren? Ano ang hawak ng old majority laban sa kanya? O pride lang kasi na-callout na naman sya sa pagiging balimbing?

Gatchalian orders Senate offices to work from home after leadership shake-up

Newly installed Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian ordered all Senate offices to shift to a work-from-home arrangement on Thursday, June 4.

In a statement released Wednesday night, June 3, Gatchalian said no official business will be conducted the following day after committee chairmanships and memberships were declared vacant.

The Senate blue ribbon committee was scheduled to hold an investigation on alleged flood control corruption on Thursday.

Newly appointed Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Erwin Tulfo said the hearing has been cancelled following the declaration that all Senate committee seats were vacant. @here

Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian holds a press conference on Thursday, June 4, 2026, a day after the recent Senate leadership shake-up.

WATCH @here: https://www.youtube.com/live/1J9GtEDiWEg

Senate President Pro Tempore says he asked Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla “to assure peace, orderly, no untoward incident that will happen” in the upper chamber on Thursday, June 4. 

It says in this article (https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/alan-peter-cayetano-history-rejecting-ouster-speaker-senate-president/) that Cayetano was already ousted as Senate president. Can someone clarify if this is indeed the case? Sa pagkakaintindi ko sya pa rin ang SP kasi 13 ang kailangan to vote for a new one?

Senator Pia Cayetano pushes through with the flood control probe that was supposed to have been canceled on June 4, 2026, as also reflected on the Senate website.

This is a day after the leadership shake-up at the Senate that stripped her of the chairmanship of the Senate blue ribbon committee that is investigating the matter. The new chair, Senator Erwin Tulfo, had set the hearing on Monday, June 8.

Watch @here: https://www.youtube.com/live/nZNp2lllhaQ

Pia Cayetano, who claims to be still the chairman of blue ribbon committee hearing, allows Rodante Marcoleta to preside over theo panel on Thursday, June 4. 

What’s their endgame? To yet again stop Sara’s trial?

Senate president pro tempore Win Gatchalian on Thursday morning, June 4, authorizes employees who reported on-site to leave the office beginning at 10 am, since there’s no “official business scheduled.”

Gatchalian said this is “in consideration of the safety, security, and well-being of Senate personnel in light of the anticipated activities within and around the Senate premises.”

In advisory on Wednesday evening, June 3, Gatchalian ordered all Senate offices to shift to a work-from-home on Thursday.

Senator Pia Cayetano continues to preside the ways and means committee hearing on Thursday morning, June 4.

On Wednesday, June 3, the Senate declared all seats vacant, including the committee chairmanship. 

Cayetano was joined by Senator Loren Legarda. 

Ping Lacson on Alan Peter Cayetano: ‘He is disgusting’

Senator Ping Lacson says fellow lawmaker Alan Peter Cayetano had no “iota of evidence” linking him to the flood control scandal and called his behavior “disgusting.”

In a post on X on Thursday, June 4, he wrote: “Disgraced ex-SP Cayetano desperately dragged my name in a bogus BRC hearing without an iota of evidence or even a tiny bit of basis or reason except to pull me into a corruption controversy. He exposed his loathsome behavior by using overstretched innuendos. He is disgusting.”