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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Buhay na buhay kami': Jinggoy questions Senate quorum used in Gatchalian's election as Senate President Pro Tempore

'Buhay na buhay kami': Jinggoy questions Senate quorum used in Gatchalian's election as Senate President Pro Tempore

Published Jun 4, 2026 01:00 pm
(MB FILE PHOTO)
(MB FILE PHOTO)
Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada on Thursday, June 4, questioned the validity of the quorum used during the Senate session that led to the election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore, insisting that the chamber should still count all 24 senators in determining a majority.
In an ambush interview at the Sandiganbayan, Estrada said some senators had incorrectly argued that the Senate currently has only 22 members because he is under detention and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is “nowhere to be found.”
“They cannot invoke Avelino vs. Cuenco. According to the 1987 Constitution, the majority of all members of the Senate — 24,” Estrada said.
“Ang ini-invoke nila, some senators are saying, 22 na lang daw ang senators ngayon because Senator Bato is nowhere to be found, and I am in detention. That is incorrect because kung 22 senators lang, ‘yung dalawa — ako at si Senator Bato — we did not resign, buhay na buhay kami, we are not physically incapacitated. That’s why ang majority [is] 24 (Some senators are claiming that there are only 22 senators now because Senator Bato is nowhere to be found and I am in detention. That is incorrect because Senator Bato and I did not resign. We are very much alive and are not physically incapacitated. That is why the majority should still be based on all 24 senators),” he went on.
Estrada was at the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division for the scheduled arraignment of the plunder and graft charges filed against him. However, the anti-graft court reset the arraignment to June 30 pending the resolution of his motion to quash the cases.
Dela Rosa, meanwhile, remains the subject of an ICC arrest warrant in connection with alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. The DOJ has directed law enforcement authorities to implement the warrant
On June 3, the Senate was able to convene after Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero arrived at around 3:20 p.m., bringing the number of senators present to 12.
Gatchalian then took the rostrum as presiding officer and formally opened the session.
During the proceedings, Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III moved to declare all elected Senate positions vacant.
Sotto subsequently nominated Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as chairman of the Committee on Rules.
The motions were approved, after which Sotto administered Gatchalian’s oath as Senate President Pro Tempore.

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Buhay na buhay kami Jinggoy questions Senate quorum used in Gatchalian election Senate President Pro Tempore
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