Gatchalian orders remote work amid Senate threat; contradicts Cayetano

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The Senate website also reflects other leadership changes based on the June 3 session that is still being contested by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and his bloc

Even the Senate’s website has moved on from the leadership dispute at the upper chamber.

On Monday, June 8, the Senate website reflected the leadership change that transpired at the upper chamber on June 3 . Until that day, the website referred to Cayetano as “Senate president.”

Senator Win Gatchalian is now officially listed as Senate president pro tempore on the website, while Senator Migz Zubiri is listed as Senate majority leader, following his election as chair of the Senate committee on rules on June 3.

NEW LEADERS. The senators’ roster on the Senate website.

The other Senate officer positions — Senate president and Senate minority leader — are still vacant, as 13 senators are needed to elect a Senate president. The losing candidate for Senate president automatically becomes the Senate minority leader.

On June 3, after two days without a Senate session due to a boycott of the Cayetano bloc , a quorum was finally reached through Senator Chiz Escudero . All elected seats at the Senate were declared vacant, followed by the election of Gatchalian as Senate president pro tempore and thus, acting Senate president.

The Senate website also reflected the new chairpersons of some committees as decided and announced during the June 3 session. Among them is Senator Erwin Tulfo as chair of the blue ribbon committee, who led the panel in a hearing on Monday morning.

NEW COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS. The Senate website shows the committee chairpersons.

In the days after the June 3 leadership change at the Senate, staff at the upper chamber have been on edge as the new majority led by Gatchalian and the old majority led by Cayetano butted heads on who represented the legitimate leadership.

The Gatchalian bloc cited legal basis — citing the Avelino doctrine — and also a 2015 Senate quorum precedent — for the June 3 session, and the new leadership was recognized by both Malacañang and the House of Representatives. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and various law deans also said that the leadership change based on a quorum of 12 was constitutional.

While Cayetano continues to insist that he was the “legitimate” and “moral” Senate president, he also sought what he called a “workable interim administrative arrangement” with Gatchalian — through new Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. (whose election is also reflected on the Senate website) and Cayetano’s “Senate secretary,” Jose Luis Montales , to ensure that Senate operations are unhampered by their dispute.

The offer was for both Cayetano and Gatchalian to sign Senate documents. Gatchalian, expectedly, rejected this.

‘Kumustahan’ two ways

Over the weekend, aware of the continuing jitters among Senate employees, Gatchalian met with officials from the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, Bantug, and new Sergeant-at-Arms Alfredo Sotto Corpuz. They also had a boodle fight.

‘KUMUSTAHAN’. Senate president pro tempore Win Gatchalian meets with officials from the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, Senate Secretary Rey Bantug Jr., and Sergeant-at-Arms Alfredo Sotto Corpuz. on June 7, 2026.

He posted photos of their meeting on his Facebook page with the caption, “Sa bukas na pakikipag-usap, mas napagtitibay natin ang pagkakaisa sa loob ng Senado.”

“Hindi matatawaran ang serbisyong ibinibigay nila araw-araw, kaya mahalagang makumusta at mapakinggan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan,” he added.

(Through open communication, we further strengthen unity in the Senate. Their service is invaluable so it is important to check up on them and listen to their concerns.)

Meanwhile, Cayetano spent part of the weekend holding another Facebook live to assure his supporters that he has not ceded the Senate presidency. – Rappler.com

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