Senator Francis Escudero on Wednesday joined the Senate minority bloc, becoming its 12th member and helping establish a quorum that allowed the chamber to resume session amid an ongoing leadership dispute.
Escudero, who previously belonged to the majority bloc, appeared during session and later explained that he made the move because the current situation in the Senate had become “untenable and unacceptable.”
“When political divisions become too extreme and obstruct our mandate, we must have the courage to pause, reflect, and realize that we should put the Senate, as the institution we serve, above ourselves,” Escudero said in a statement.
The senator stressed that his decision was not about joining a political faction.
“This is not a political contest. I am not taking sides. I am taking a stand for the Senate,” he said.
“My allegiance is not to any faction, personality, group or alliance. This is about duty.”
Escudero’s presence enabled the Senate to proceed with session after days of deadlock between rival blocs over the chamber’s leadership and legislative agenda.
Following the session, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was elected Senate President Pro Tempore and acting presiding officer.
The 12-member bloc welcomed Escudero’s move, saying it allowed the Senate to tackle pending matters that had been left unresolved due to the impasse.
In a joint statement, the senators said Filipinos “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,” the bloc said.
The deadlock followed the surrender of Senator Jinggoy Estrada in connection with a plunder case and the continued absence of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, developments that narrowed the majority bloc’s numbers and intensified uncertainty over control of the chamber.
