Toper Gatlabayan

In-love. Antipoleño. PUPian. Maroon. Happiest.

[Toper Gatlabayan @ToperGatlabayan]

The best @itsixwordstory yet and I love it. https://t.co/KHlKvofxmv

[CNN Breaking News @cnnbrk]

An earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck Mindanao in the southern Philippines, according to the United States Geological Survey. https://t.co/u5j95IxQ4A

[Sonny Trillanes IV @TrillanesSonny]

Risa Na!

[Kiko Pangilinan @kikopangilinan]

Ang nagdaang tatlong linggo sa Senado sa loob ng pitong minuto.

Manatili tayong mapanuri at mapagbantay sa mga nangyayari sa ating bayan.

Sana ay makabalik na tayo sa mga trabahong nabinbin lalo na’t nasa krisis pa ang mundo dahil sa krisis sa langis.

[Heidi Mendoza @HeidiMendoza45]

May mga panahon na ang pinakamahirap gawin ay hindi ang manalo, kundi ang tumindig kahit ginagawa kang target ng kapangyarihan.

Bilang isang taong matagal nang lumalaban para sa pananagutan sa pamahalaan, alam ko na ang tapang ay hindi nasusukat kapag tahimik ang paligid. Nasusukat ito kapag malakas ang atake, mabigat ang pressure, at mas madali sanang manahimik na lang.

Senator Risa Hontiveros has shown that courage time and again. Hindi siya tumitindig para sa ingay. Tumitindig siya para sa katotohanan. Sa mga imbestigasyon tungkol sa POGOs, Alice Guo, human trafficking, abuse, corruption, and failures of public institutions, she has shown what it means to follow the trail even when the trail leads to powerful people. She has pushed for accountability where others would rather look away, and has consistently used her platform to protect those harmed by abuse, exploitation, and institutional neglect.

She asks the questions that many are afraid to ask. She gives voice to people who are often ignored. And even when the attacks become personal, she does not retreat from the work.

That kind of leadership is exactly what our democracy needs: principled, steady, prepared, and unafraid.

Hindi ko ito kayang tapatan ng pananahimik.

Naranasan ko na kung paano tumindig nang walang kasiguraduhan kung may yayakap ba, may sasabay ba, o may mananatili hanggang dulo. Naranasan ko na ring maiwang nakatayo mag-isa, sumasalo ng puna, batikos, at paninira, habang ang iba ay umatras na dahil mahirap ang laban.

Kaya alam ko: hindi madali ang lumaban para sa transparency, justice, and good governance. Pero posible ito kapag may mga lingkod-bayan na inuuna ang prinsipyo kaysa pulitika, at ang kapakanan ng taumbayan kaysa sariling ginhawa.

Naranasan ko nang masabihan: “Hindi ka naman mananalo. Masasayang lang ang boto.”

Pero kung ang laging pipiliin ay ang mukhang mananalo, kailan natin ipapanalo ang tunay na nararapat?

Gawin nating hamon ang panghihina nila.

Kayanin natin ang mahirap,
Ipanalo natin ang karapat-dapat.

Hindi ito para kay Risa!

Ito ay para sa ating lahat!

[WinRi Official @WinRiOFC]

Ang power couple ng Senado yata ito

WINRI SA MANILA TIMES
#WinRi #WinRiOfficial

[Win Gatchalian @WinGatchalian74]

Ang sesyon noong Hunyo 3, 2026 ay lehitimo at naaayon sa batas — IBP

Ang Avelino v. Cuenco ruling ay nagsasabi ng isang simpleng bagay: ang Konstitusyon ay hindi dapat gamitin para pigilan ang Senado sa paggawa ng tungkulin nito.

May dalawang senador na hindi makadalo sa mga gawain ng kapulungan sa kasalukuyan, kaya 22 na lamang ang maituturing na available na miyembro — at ang 12 sa kanila ay bumubuo ng mayorya.

Mahalagang tandaan na ang quorum ay batay sa bilang ng mga senador na maaaring lumahok. Sa kasong ito, malinaw na natugunan ang kinakailangang quorum.

[Inquirer @inquirerdotnet]

ETHICS COMPLAINT VS. CAYETANO, MAJORITY SENATORS

LOOK: Mark Joseph Duque, a first-year college student, filed a complaint to the Senate ethics committee on Wednesday against the majority bloc for their continued absence in Senate sessions. | @bellepechayINQ

Watch the live stream here: https://t.co/O2hYlcekQ7

[Inquirer @inquirerdotnet]

12 SENATORS ENOUGH TO CREATE QUORUM - SC RULING

The new Senate majority bloc on Wednesday cited the Supreme Court’s ruling on Avelino v. Cuenco as their legal basis for the leadership revamp in the chamber.

The case involves 12 senators who held a quorum after then Senate President Jose Avelino and nine of his allies walked out of the session and replaced him with Sen. Mariano Jesus Cuenco.

READ MORE: https://t.co/ud0YAfDQa7

[Kiko Pangilinan @kikopangilinan]

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.

[Win Gatchalian @WinGatchalian74]

Today, I take my oath as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Nagpapasalamat ako sa tiwala at kumpiyansang ipinagkaloob sa akin ng aking mga kasamahan sa Senado.

Buong pagpapakumbaba kong tinatanggap ang responsibilidad na ito. Patuloy tayong magtatrabaho at tutupad sa ating tungkulin para sa sambayanang Pilipino.

[Win Gatchalian @WinGatchalian74]

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.

[Karen Davila @iamkarendavila]

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.

[PING LACSON @iampinglacson]

Standing up for the Senate’s independence does not place SP Cayetano and any senator above the law. It has nothing to do with non-adherence to the rule of law.
Dereliction of duty will not solve this partisan gridlock. Its sole purpose is to hold legislation hostage.

[ABS-CBN News @ABSCBNNews]

Hindi ka bakla lang. Bahagi ka ng lahat. 🌈

[Win Gatchalian @WinGatchalian74]

Handang magtrabaho.

[Karen Davila @iamkarendavila]

Senators were seen crying yesterday as a colleague was being arrested for plunder.

This is in no way an indictment of the accused senator but I would like to remind our lawmakers…

Iyakan n’yo ang ninanakawang Pilipino.
Iyakan n’yo ang binabaha dahil sa nakawan sa flood control.
Iyakan n’yo ang gutom nating mga kababayan.

Get out of your bubble. Please.

[Kiko Pangilinan @kikopangilinan]

𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜 𝗣𝗨𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗔 𝗜𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗢 𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗞𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗜𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗞𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗞𝗦𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗞𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗜𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗬𝗢𝗡

𝗡𝗢𝗢𝗡, sa gitna ng COVID-19 pandemic at national emergency, pinayagan ang videoconferencing sa ilalim ng Senate Rules na nakaangkla sa force majeure. May mga panukalang inihain kaugnay ng participation ni Sen. Leila de Lima, kabilang ang P.S. Res. No. 658 at P.S. Res. No. 51. 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿�� 𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗻𝗮-𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁, 𝗸𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁.

𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗬𝗢𝗡, wala nang pandemic at walang national emergency. Iba ang legal at factual context. 𝗞𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗮���𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

𝗞𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘄: hindi maaaring direktang ihalintulad ang mga naunang panukala sa kasalukuyang mga proposal ukol sa remote voting o special exceptions. 𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗶𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗿𝗶 𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮.

𝗦𝗮 𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝗼, 𝗺𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴-𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘀.

[Torey Canino-Celis @tj_canino]

i’m crying because senator risa hontiveros keeps clocking these evil crooks every chance she gets 😭😭😭

[Win Gatchalian @WinGatchalian74]

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE SENATE MINORITY WALKOUT

[Kiko Pangilinan @kikopangilinan]

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE SENATE MINORITY WALKOUT

We strongly condemn what appears to be an attempt to rush a major change in the Senate Rules, especially when several members of the minority still wanted to speak and raise serious questions on the floor.

Bakit kailangang madaliin? Bakit kailangang pigilan ang mga gustong magsalita? Bakit kailangang i-divide ang house kung marami pang senador ang nagtatanong tungkol sa proseso?

Minamadali ba ang rule change na ito dahil gusto nilang maka boto si Senator Bato? At ngayong may mga ulat na may mga majority senators na maaaring arestuhin?

We walked out because what happened on the floor looked less like orderly deliberation. The proposed rule change affects how senators may attend sessions, participate in proceedings and exercise their mandate through remote means, and such a measure should be opened to healthy public debate instead of being rushed by the tyranny of the majority.

We have always welcomed healthy discussions on the floor, but this should mean allowing all members to be heard, not forcing the chamber to move at the speed preferred by the majority.

At the time the motion was taken up, there was no duly constituted Committee on Rules and there was not even an elected Majority Leader who could properly guide a rules amendment through the regular process.

How could there have been any action or discussion before the Committee on Rules when no Committee on Rules has been organized to date?

With due respect, the answer that no Senate rule had been violated does not settle the matter, because the rules cannot be treated as a matter of convenience when the very process for amending them is under serious question.

The timing raises a question that the public deserves to hear debated openly. Kaya pinili naming tumayo at iwan ang majority sa plenary. Kaya kami nagdesisyon to question the quorum and call for adjournment.

If the proposal is truly defensible, then let it pass through the proper route.

We owe it to the people who voted for us to do our mandate. This is why we want more time to discuss this further.