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VOL. XL • NO. 110 • 7 SECTIONS 32 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2026 •
Senate impasse ends, ‘Win’ on top Chiz attends, quorum of 12 resets chamber; Alan cries foul
By Ram Superable, Joel Zurbano, and Maricel Cruz
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HE Senate on Wednesday reorganized its leadership and committee structure after breaking a two-day deadlock that had prevented the chamber from convening, but lawmakers remained unable to elect a new Senate president amid an ongoing standoff between rival blocs ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
TIPPING POINT. Acting Senate President and newly-elected Senate Pro tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, left photo, presides over the plenary session after Sen. Francis Escudero, left photo, broke ranks with the Senate majority and joined the minority. Contributed photos
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Revived Blue Ribbon probe reset to June 8
By Charles Dantes, Ram Superable, Joel Zurbano, and Pot Chavez
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NEWS / A2 The breakthrough came after Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, previously aligned with the pro-Duterte bloc, attended the session and joined 11 senators already present in the plenary hall, allowing the chamber to declare a quorum and proceed with Senate business.
Marcos to senators: Get back to work, laws need passing PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged senators to end a boycott that has paralyzed the Senate for two days, warning that legislative inaction could delay critical measures needed to help Filipinos cope with rising fuel prices and economic uncertainty. “The legislature is now in disarray,” Marcos told reporters. “Get back to work because it’s important. We have so many things to do. We have to pass a lot of laws.” The President issued the appeal yesterday morning, as a bitter power struggle in the Senate intensified ahead of the July 6 impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. In the afternoon, a quorum of 12 senators reorganized the chamber, selecting Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and declaring the Senate presidency -- held by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano -- vacant along with all committee chairmanships and offices (see related story on A1 – Editors)
New majority elects committee head
By Ram Superable
SCHOLARS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. addresses students and scholars during an event in Manila where he distributed checks to those who qualified as presidential scholars. PCO
NEWLY elected Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday said the panel’s investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects will push through on Monday, June 8, following a leadership reshuffle in the Senate. “There will be a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Monday. We are just moving the schedule from tomorrow to prepare all members,” Tulfo said in a press conference. Sen. Francis Escudero’s arrival in
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DPWH to file PBBM says 200k students to benefit from scholarship grants flood control raps vs. ‘big fish’ in Bulacan case By Charles Dantes
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government aims to help more than 200,000 students complete their education through a nationwide scholarship
By Rex Espiritu and VIto Barcelo THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to file another complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against several personalities, including a so-called “big fish,” in connection with the flood control controversy. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon refused to name the respondents, but said the case would be filed on Thursday in Bulacan. “There are more cases coming up. In fact, tomorrow, another one will be filed in Bulacan,” he said in an interview during the inspection of the Matalahib creek pumping station in Quezon City. “Just wait to see who the big fish is. Just wait for tomorrow.” During the inspection on We d n e s d a y, D i z o n s a i d t h e Next page
program funded directly by barangays, citing concerns over rising college dropout rates. Speaking before student beneficiaries in Manila, Mr. Marcos said the initiative forms part of the administration’s broader effort to channel
national government funds directly to local governments to speed up the delivery of assistance. “I have been telling our presidential scholars that I hope you will make good use of this fund, this P20,000, and do your best in your
studies,” the President said. The program allocates P200,000 to every barangay nationwide through the government’s Socio-Civic Development Program. Half of the amount is designated Next page
Obstruction of justice case filed vs. Alan, Robin, Aplasca By Rex Espiritu SENATE President Allan Peter Cayetano, Senator Robinhood Padilla and suspended Senate sergeant-atarms Mao Aplasca face complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged obstruction of justice in connection with the escape of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa from the premises of the Upper Chamber to avoid arrest on orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The complaint was filed by individuals representing Tindig Pilipinas led by convenors Francis
Joseph Aquino Dee and Sylvia Estrada Claudio, together with Cielo Magno, Fr. Flavie Villanueva, Randy delos Santos, and other groups. Delos Santos is uncle of deceased teenager Kian delos Santos who was among the high-profile victims of the bloody drug campaign during the Duterte administration. According to the complainants, concerns have emerged over reports that public officials and security personnel may have facilitated or enabled Dela Rosa’s alleged evasion of arrest in connection with crimes Next page
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. Members of Tindig Pilipinas, together with Accountability campaigners, and relatives of victims of the anti-drug campaign under the Duterte administration, file a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Robinhood Padilla, as well as former acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca, over the alleged obstruction of justice linked to the reported evasion of arrest by Senator Ronald ‘Bato‘ dela Rosa within the Senate premises. Manny Palmero