SC asked to nullify June 3 session

SENATOR Alan Peter S. Cayetano on Tuesday filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to nullify actions taken during the June 3 Senate session, arguing that the chamber lacked the constitutionally required quorum when leadership and committee reorganizations were carried out.

In a petition for certiorari and prohibition filed electronically on June 16, Mr. Cayetano, eight other senators and former Senate Secretary Jose Luis G. Montales asked the court to void the June 3 proceedings and all acts stemming from it, including changes in Senate leadership, committee chairmanships, and amendments to impeachment trial rules.

The petitioners argued that only 12 senators were physically present during the session, falling short of the majority required under Article VI, Section 16(2) of the Constitution for the Senate to conduct business. “The Senate is composed of twenty-four (24) members. A majority of twenty-four (24) is 13,” the petition stated.

Petitioners said all actions taken during the June 3 proceedings should be struck down.

They asked the SC to issue a status quo ante order restoring the parties to their positions prior to the June 3 session while the case is pending.

They also argued the proceedings constituted a “rump session” and cited the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio as among the reasons for seeking immediate judicial intervention.

Among the named petitioners were Senators Lorna Regina “Loren” B. Legarda, Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano, Jose “Jinggoy” P. Ejercito Estrada, Jr., Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go, Rodante D. Marcoleta, Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos, Robinhood C. Padilla and Camille Lydia A. Villar-Genuino.

The list did not include Senators Mark A. Villar and Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, who were among the majority lawmakers when Mr. Cayetano led the chamber.

Respondents include Senators Sherwin T. Gatchalian, Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero, Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV, Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito, Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid, Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan, Vicente C. Sotto III, Erwin T. Tulfo and Rafael T. Tulfo, as well as Renato N. Bantug, Jr. and retired Police Major General Alfredo S. Corpus.

In a Facebook post, Mr. Cayetano said the case was not about Senate leadership, but constitutional and institutional safeguards, adding that questions raised should be resolved through legal processes. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez