Malacañang: Senate majority should have attended session despite Senator Estrada arrest

Malacañang insisted that members of the Senate majority bloc should have attended Monday’s plenary session and carried out their legislative duties even as it understood why senators accompanied their colleague, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, during his arrest.

Speaking at a Palace briefing on Tuesday, June 2, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the majority bloc’s decision to skip the June 1 session could have wider consequences, particularly for the passage of priority measures, the economy, and the public.

Castro noted that several key bills are scheduled for deliberation and approval this month, warning that continued disruptions in the Senate could hamper legislative work.

“Sa ngayon alam naman natin kung ano iyong mga priority bills, hindi lang dalawa hindi lang isa, hindi lang tatlo, marami po,” Castro said.

“Pero kung ganito po ang nangyayari sa Senado, mahihirapan po talaga, hindi lamang ang Pangulo kung hindi ang taumbayan, apektado ang taumbayan dito, pati po ang ekonomiya ay maapektuhan sa ingay at gulo sa Senado,” Castro added.

She reiterated that the administration remains committed to advancing the priority measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) earlier this year, regardless of who leads the Senate.

According to Castro, the executive branch is prepared to work with any Senate leadership to ensure the passage of legislation intended to benefit the public.

“Ang Pangulo po ay hindi iisipin ang sarili, hindi iisipin ang sariling interes,” Castro said.

“So, iyan po ang itanong natin sa Senado dahil tama po, hindi naman po kinakailangan na hindi magtrabaho kahapon dahil maski na po ang paghatid at pagsama kay Senator Jinggoy Estrada bilang kaibigan ay nararapat lamang, pero hindi po kinakailangang talikuran ang sariling mandato para lang sa ganitong klaseng isyu,” Castro added.

Among the administration’s priority bills are the Travel Tax Abolition measure, the Expanded Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act of 2026, the Anti-Fake News and Digital Disinformation bill, and legislation related to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections.

Other priority proposals include the Anti-Political Dynasty Law, the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, the Independent People’s Commission Act, and the Party-List System Reform Act.

The Senate majority bloc’s absence from Monday’s session came a day after Estrada was arrested inside the Senate on plunder charges. Although the session was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., only senators belonging to the minority bloc were present.