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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Chiz Escudero: Senate impasse is untenable, unacceptable

Chiz Escudero: Senate impasse is untenable, unacceptable

Published Jun 3, 2026 05:23 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, who joined the group electing Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as the Senate President, said his decision to join the new majority is beyond politics saying there is a need to ensure that the Senate's mandate remains intact.

The current impasse in the Senate is untenable and unacceptable.

This, according to Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, is the reason why he showed up during Wednesday’s session, this June 3, 2026 and provided a quorum for the Solid Bloc 11, now the new Senate majority bloc. 

“When political divisions become too extreme and obstruct our mandate, we must all have the courage to pause, gain perspective, reflect, consider and realize that we should put the  Senate, as the institution that we serve, above ourselves,” Escudero said in a statement.

“This is not a political contest. I am not taking sides. I am taking a stand for the Senate. My allegiance is not to any faction, personality, group or alliance. This is not about loyalty, betrayal, or choosing one group over the other—this is about duty,” he said.

Escudero, who joined the group electing Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as the Senate President, said his decision to join the new majority is beyond politics saying there is a need to ensure that the Senate’s mandate remains intact.

“Hindi ito usaping pampulitika. Wala akong sinasamahan o iniiwananggrupo, pangkat o paksyon. Hindi ko sinasabi na may mali o tama o may nagkulang o nagmalabis kaninuman. Ngunit hindi pwedeng manatilitayo sa ganitong sitwasyon. Ang naaapektuhan na ay ang mismongkakayahan ng Senado na gampanan ang kaniyang tungkulin sa bayan (This is not a political issue. I am not siding with or abandoning any group, faction or faction. I am not saying that anyone is right or wrong or that anyone has done anything wrong or done anything wrong. But we cannot remain in this situation. What is being affected is the very ability of the Senate to fulfill its duty to the people),” he said.

 “Ito ang rason at dahilan ng aking pasya ngayong araw na ito. Hinihiling ko ang inyong pag-unawa sa amin, kasabay ng inyong panalangin para sa inyong Senado na malampasan ang hamon na ito at patuloy namagampanan namin ang aming tungkulin sa inyo at sa sambayanan (This is the reason and cause of my decision today. I ask for your understanding of us, along with your prayers for your Senate to overcome this challenge and continue to fulfill our duty to you and the people),” Escudero stated. 

Related Tags

Senate leadership Senate Senate leadership change Senate majority boycott Senate majority Senate minority bloc Chiz Escudero
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