SENATE BACK TO WORK FOR THE FILIPINO PEOPLE
We express our deep appreciation and commend the courageous decision of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to take the floor today and confront the issues facing the institution. His action sent a clear message: that his commitment to the country, to the Senate, and to the Constitution would prevail above all else.
His presence enabled the Senate to proceed with the discussion of matters that are too important to be left unresolved and too consequential to be set aside.
On the issue of quorum, this is not an uncharted matter. The Supreme Court, in Avelino v. Cuenco, recognized the principle that a quorum of 12 is determined based on the number of members who are legally able to discharge the functions of the Senate.
There is likewise an institutional precedent. In 2015, the Senate recognized a quorum of 12 senators who were within its jurisdiction. The Senate continued to perform its constitutional duties because the work of government could not be placed on hold.
At a time when the nation faces pressing challenges, the Filipino people expect their Senate to work, deliberate, and fulfill its constitutional mandate. The institution cannot remain stalled by disagreements or uncertainty. Our duty is clear: to legislate, provide oversight, and serve the public interest.
The Filipino people deserve a Senate that shows up, does its job, and places public service above politics.
It is time for the Senate to move forward and get back to work for the Filipino people.
A word to the Majority Senators:
Do not mistake silence for support.
If you think the public is applauding the continued paralysis of the Senate, think again.
This is no longer about principle. It is increasingly about preserving Alan Cayetano's leadership.
And if you continue holding the Senate hostage for that purpose, the public's frustration will not stop with him. It will extend to every senator who enabled it.
The people elected you to govern, not to protect a Senate presidency.
Power is temporary. Public judgment lasts much longer.
Excuse me, Sen. Robin. Huwag nyo nga akong gamitin sa baluktot nyong naratibo. Acquitted na ako sa hinarap kong mga gawa-gawang kaso. Napakalayo ng sitwasyon ko sa pinasakay mong fugitive from justice na si Sen. Bato.
Saka neutralizing drug lords talaga? Sabihin nya yan sa pamilya ng libo-libong biktima ng EJK. Ipaliwanag nya yan sa ICC.
Sayang ang ipinapasahod ng taong-bayan kung hindi nagagamit ang oras ng Senado para sa trabaho.
Humigit-kumulang ₱25 milyon ang ginagastos kada araw sa operasyon ng Senado para sa kuryente, utilities, pasahod, at iba pang pangangailangan.
Kapag walang sesyon, walang batas o resolusyong maipapasa. Maaantala rin ang kumpirmasyon ng ating military personnel.
SOLID BLOC 11: ALAN PETER CAYETANO RESIGN!
What happened today was a clear abandonment of responsibility, a dereliction of duty, and a blatant disregard of the rules that govern this institution, because the Senate cannot be made to stop working simply because its presiding officer refuses to lead.
Under Rule XIV, Sec. 41 of the Rules of the Senate, the Senate President may postpone the holding of the session AFTER consultation with the Majority Leader AND the Minority Leader. That rule was violated. This is not merely a procedural lapse—it is a direct violation of the Rules of the Senate and a serious disrespect for the institution and the Filipino people.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano SHOULD RESIGN as he has shown that he cannot function as the leader of the Senate.
SOLID BLOC 11: THIS IS NOT SENATE INDEPENDENCE BUT A BOYCOTT OF DUTY
The Solid Bloc 11 minority senators were present today for the 5 p.m. resumption of session, ready to work, ready to vote on pending bills and ready to keep the Senate running, but the majority led by SP Cayetano chose not to show up.
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.
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.
Ang Senado ay hindi pag-aari ng iisang may hawak ng gavel. Institusyon ito ng taumbayan at napakadaming mahalagang panukala ang nabibinbin dahil sa drama ng mayorya.
Important measures were left hanging because of the majority’s boycott, including the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, the Anti-Hospital Detention Bill, the confirmation of generals before the Commission on Appointments and the bills granting Philippine citizenship to Bennie Boatwright III and Matthew James Ramos.
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.
This is a boycott because of the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and the public should not be asked to believe another convenient line from a leadership that has repeatedly twisted the truth.
Today was a step toward accountability in a controversy that the public has long demanded action on, and after years of people asking why nothing was happening in flood control investigations, it is unacceptable to suddenly call the rule of law an attack on the Senate.
Is Senate President Alan Cayetano now questioning the rule of law?
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.
This may be the first time in decades that Senate work stopped because the presiding officer himself refused to work, because even during typhoons and the height of the pandemic, work was suspended only because of necessity or because systems still had to be set up, not because the leadership chose a boycott of duty.
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 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 Senate should open its doors, call the session to order and return to work, because no Facebook post, no appeal to institutional pride and no political drama can erase the basic duty of senators to show up, follow the law and serve the people.
And lastly, we call on the Filipino people to watch the Senate closely, because when an institution refuses to work, public vigilance becomes the people’s first line of defense.
Absolute disrespect for the Filipino people. What entitlement.
Mag-boycott tayo.
Huwag mag trabaho.
Hayaan natin ang mga nakabinbing panukala.
Mga senador, binabayaran kayo ng taumbayan. Pambabastos ito sa Pilipino.
Wala bang prequel yung lysb. Gusto ko ng backstory ni LA at Vanna HAHSHDHDHS super interesting nung relationship nila based from those montage sa intro at outro ng movie huhuhu pls pls
D2 DUSTBIA LUMALUVAHN
everybody wanna steal his girl everybody wanna take her heart away couple billion in the whole wide world find another one ’cause she belongs to him
DUSTBIA LAVAN 25EVER
Wala nang pwedeng maibato kay dustin kasi may napatunayan nanaman siya. He can shine alone. Soldout tickets nang walang revealed guests? Yes. Successful event nang walang loveteam? Yep! That's all him.
DUSTIN YU GRAND FANFEST
#DustinYuXAromagicare#DestinyTheDustinYuExperience
This day is all about LOVE for DUSTIN.
From the people who show up for him....
by hook, by crook, no excuses, no conditions.
The ones who choose him every single time.
And tonight proved something louder than any noise out there...
You don’t just stand on your own..you hold your ground, you OWN your space.
You don’t need anyone to lift you up…
Because you rise higher, stronger, and louder all by yourself.
And honestly?
We are SO damn proud of you!!!!
#DUSTINYU
#TEAMLAVAN
#TEAMLA
DUSTIN GRAND FANFEST
DUSTIN GRAND FANFEST
DUSTIN GRAND FANFEST
MANIAC? PLEASE.
You mean the guy who took care of Bianca when she was drunk? Told her to sleep it off instead of letting her embarrass herself?
Right, real ‘maniac’ behavior. Some of you really need to get yourselves check... not everything fits your little made-up stories!
UMAY SA MGA FEELING MAY DELIKADESA NA KILIG NA KILIG NAMAN SA KALDAG 🙄
KAKAPAL NG MUKHA NYO.
#DUSTBIA
#DUSTINYU
#BIANCADEVERA
Leni is a THREAT. Kaya sinuportahan ng mga kurap ang tandem ni BBM at Inday. They know they can thrive if they are the leaders.
We could have saved ourselves billions. But the 31M voters preferred to have our money stolen.
DDS sa EDSA (naka black shirt): “Marcos Resign!”
Protester (naka white): “Impeach Sara Duterte FIRST! Kala nyo nakalimutan na namin?” 👊
#BahaSaLuneta#TrillionPesoMarch