Here’s the new addition to the running list of committee chairpersons following the leadership shake-up:

Blue ribbon committee
Chairperson: Pia Cayetano

Committee on Foreign Relations
Chairperson: Imee Marcos

Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change
Chairperson: Camille Villar

Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes
Chairperson: Robin Padilla

Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises
Chairperson: Camille Villar

Senator Marcoleta is the new chairperson of committee on justice

Senator Rodante Marcoleta replaces Kiko Pangilinan as chairperson of committee on justice.

Hontiveros clarifies that what she described as “nothing happened” was the response of the Senate after the series of commotion in the Senate in the past dew days. Here’s Hontiveros’ quote:

“Hindi ako mapanatag na simula noong Lunes ang pinakita natin ay parang walang nangyari, na para bang hindi nabastos ang institusyon, ang ating mga empleyado, at mga Pilipino.”

BREAKING: House now one vote away from passing anti-dynasty bill

The House passes on second reading the anti-dynasty bill, the farthest that the measure has gone in the legislative mill in the history of Congress. The bill's weak regulations, however, are unlikely to silence critics, and its provisions are likely to be blocked by sibling-senators who will be directly impacted if this version is signed into law. @here

House's Kalinga bill, which seeks to address oil price shock, passes 2nd reading

The House of Representatives approves on second reading the Kalinga Act of 2026, which seeks to provide an emergency response framework at a time when inflation surges due to instability on fuel prices. @here

Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial to begin on July 6

Senator Erwin Tulfo said on Thursday morning, May 21, that the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will begin on July 6. 

“Nagbigay na po ng schedule kahapon. Ipinatawag po ng caucus of all members ni SP Cayetano at July 6 po ang umpisa ng ika nga impeachment trial,” Tulfo said in an interview with GMA News’ Unang Balita. @here

Pia Cayetano says no senators checked on her after Senate shooting; Erwin Tulfo refutes claim

Senator Erwin Tulfo refuted Senator Pia Cayetano’s claim that her colleagues did not check on them—the members of the majority bloc—during the shooting incident in the Senate.

Tulfo said in an interview with GMA News’ Unang Balita that he, along with Senators Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, and Win Gatchalian—all members of the minority—sent messages to senators inside the building following the shootout.

On Wednesday, May 20, Cayetano became emotional during the session as she recalled the shooting incident and expressed disappointment that some of her colleagues did not reach out to comfort her.

I notice that in your FB posts plus the posts of other pages, posts about investigations of Martin Romuáldez, there are always the "users" who comment with the same language and script in his defence.
Can you look into his possible influence operations? I suspect he is resorting to troll farms, and this is for the longest time.

Just watched the interview of Sen. Imee Marcos by Karen Davila on Head Start. The senator claims that there is an attempt by the present administration to hold Charter Change to extend their term until 2031. This is why they had to change Senate leadership.

JUST IN: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declares Wednesday, May 27, 2026, a regular holiday in observance of Eid'l Adha. | via @Bea Cupin - RAPPLER

Good morning! Senator Risa Hovtiveros will hold a press conference around 11:30 pm. I'll be sending updates from here in the Senate. @here

“Still, a status quo.”

That’s the response of Senator Risa Hontiveros on question if there will be a leadership shake-up in later’s session on Monday, May 25. 

Are there members of the majority to join the minority? Hontiveros says there are dialogues. 

The session is now suspended. We’re now seeing Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Ping Lacson discussing on the sidelines.

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.