Chiz enters: Senate declares quorum with 12 senators present

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This is a developing story.

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate resumed session Wednesday, June 3, after two straight session days of inaction, with 12 senators present and a quorum declared before all positions in the chamber were declared vacant.

Majority member Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero entered the plenary hall and joined minority senators who were already present, allowing the chamber to proceed after the majority bloc and presiding officers failed to appear in the previous sessions.

The roll call marked the Senate’s first move to break the deadlock that began Monday, June 1, after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada surrendered to authorities over a non-bailable plunder case, and the rest of the majority members led by Senate President Alan Cayetano failed to convene session.

The declaration of all positions as vacant opened the way for a reorganization of the Senate leadership and other chamber posts.

Escudero’s appearance Wednesday was significant because Cayetano’s majority had been operating on a thin margin after Estrada’s arrest and the continued absence of Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.

The Senate had failed to hold session for two days, leaving pending measures and appointments stalled as questions mounted over whether Cayetano still had the numbers to control the floor.

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