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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider RAGE coalition denounces 'unconstitutional' assault on Senate

RAGE coalition denounces 'unconstitutional' assault on Senate

Published Jun 7, 2026 03:17 pm

At A Glance

  • The RAGE Coalition, a coalition of groups supporting Vice President Sara Duterte, has denounced what they called an "unconstitutional assault" on the Senate.
Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian (Facebook)
Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian (Facebook)

The RAGE Coalition, a coalition of groups supporting Vice President Sara Duterte, has denounced what they called an “unconstitutional assault” on the Senate.

Its lead convenor, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, issued a statement condemning the recent takeover of the new majority group now led by acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, saying it was a desperate move and highly irregular.

The RAGE Coalition said, the leadership, founding members and convenors of the RAGE Coalition “stand as one with the Filipino people in fiercely denouncing the latest  unconstitutional assault on the Senate of the Philippines. 

“What we are witnessing is not a mere political dispute, it is a desperate, highly irregular attempt by a pretentious Majority to suppress the truth, protect corrupt actors, and weaponize state power,” the RAGE Coalition said in a statement.

The group said the timeline of events exposes a systematic, coordinated conspiracy to cover up the greatest raid on public coffers, particularly when they suppressed the 18 former soldiers who wanted to testify on the anomalous flood control projects. 

“They pointed directly to the operatives of (former representative) Zaldy Co, the central mastermind of this organized plunder. Yet, the previous Senate

leadership and the Blue Ribbon Committee chose to shield the corrupt-deliberately ignoring, dismissing, and insulting the very soldiers who risked everything to expose how suitcases of cash were being delivered to the highest echelons of power.

The Group also called for a shift toward accountability, and for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano to be restored as the Senate president, saying the current leadership under  Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian is nothing but a sham leadership coup. 

“They completely ignored the strict constitutional requirement of a true quorum and the mandatory 13 affirmative votes of the entire Senate membership required to change officers.,” they said. 

“This arrogance and state-sponsored bullying must stop immediately. The Rage Coalition declares its full, absolute support for Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and the legitimate institution of the Senate he represents,” they said.

“The Senate must reclaim its role as the ultimate constitutional anchor-acting not as a rublber stampfor executive overreach, but as a fierce, independent

guardian of the public purse and the rule of law,” they added. 

Related Tags

Baste Duterte RAGE Coalition Senate leadership change
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