Senate minority: Key measures left hanging after majority bloc's no-show

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MANILA, Philippines — Several key measures and appointments were left pending after the Senate majority bloc failed to convene for Monday's plenary session, a move the minority coalition linked to the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Members of the 11-member minority coalition, who called themselves "Solid Bloc 11," criticized the majority bloc led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano for skipping the scheduled 5 p.m. plenary session, saying the move stalled action on several pending measures and appointments.

According to the lawmakers, the majority bloc did not inform them that they had "no intention of convening."

"They did not even have the courtesy to inform us when they ignored the rules, and could not extend the basic decency of telling the minority that they had no intention of convening," the minority bloc's statement read.

"Let us focus on the work, because the Senate has serious business before it, and if the majority wants to protest, deliver privilege speeches or defend its position, the proper place to do that is on the floor, not by making the chamber stand still," it added.

The following are the pieces of legislation that were left hanging, according to the Senate minority:

• Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers
• Anti-Hospital Detention Bill
• Confirmation of generals before the Commission on Appointments
• Bill granting Philippine citizenship to Bennie Boatwright III
• Bill granting Philippine citizenship to Matthew James Ramos

After Estrada's arrest

According to the opposition, the sudden shutdown is a direct reaction to Estrada's arrest.

"Let us call this for what it is: the claim that this is about Senate independence is false, because what happened today was about the rule of law, public accountability and a lawful process before the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan that no senator, no bloc and no presiding officer controls," the minority bloc's statement read.

The majority's no-show occurred after the arrest of Estrada, who is currently in detention in Quezon City over allegations that he received P573 million in kickbacks from flood control projects.

Before facing the media, Cayetano argued with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla over the immediate arrest of individuals within Senate premises.

Minority questions Cayetano's actions

The minority bloc also questioned whether Cayetano is challenging the rule of law, claiming that the majority is prioritizing political alliances over principles by pressuring the opposition to join a "boycott."

They pointed out that this marks a rare disruption in modern legislative history where operations stopped simply because the presiding officer refused to work, noting that even during severe typhoons and the pandemic, suspensions were due to pure necessity rather than an intentional abandonment of duty.

"Sa totoo lang, ang gusto nila ay kampihan, hindi prinsipyo. Gusto nila sumama kami sa boycott, patahimikin ang Senado at gamitin ang minority para manatili ang Senate president sa puwesto habang iniiwasan ang tunay na test of numbers sa floor," the minority bloc said.

(Honestly, what they want is for us to take sides, not stand on principle. They want us to join the boycott, silence the Senate and use the minority to keep the Senate president in office while avoiding the real test of numbers on the floor.)

"The public has every right to ask whether SP Cayetano is repeating what he did in the House of Representatives, when questions were raised about a leader refusing to step aside, refusing to convene and holding up proceedings when the numbers were no longer certain," the bloc added.

"The question now is just as serious: will they do this again for the next two session days, and will they keep the Senate idle simply to avoid facing the numbers on the floor?" the bloc's statement read.