MANILA — A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a definitive ruling on the legality of the Senate’s quorum during its June 3 session, which led to major leadership changes in the chamber.
High school teacher John Barry Tayam submitted a 20-page petition for certiorari on Friday, asking the High Court to declare that the attendance of 12 senators during the session constituted a valid and constitutional quorum.
In his petition, Tayam urged the Court to affirm that the June 3 proceedings, including leadership elections, vacancy declarations, and committee reorganizations, were legally binding and in accordance with the Constitution.
The issue arose amid a prolonged standoff in the Senate after members of the then-majority bloc allegedly skipped sessions, preventing the chamber from reaching the minimum number needed to conduct official business.
The deadlock ended on June 3 when Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero joined senators who had been attending the session, allowing the Senate to reach a quorum. The senators subsequently declared key leadership posts vacant and elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president pro tempore.
Supporters of the move cited the landmark 1949 Supreme Court ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco, which held that a quorum should be based on the number of available members rather than the total membership of the Senate.
Under that interpretation, only 22 senators were considered available, as Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was reportedly in hiding while Senator Jinggoy Estrada remained under detention. With 22 available members, the presence of 12 senators constituted a majority and therefore a valid quorum.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and several law school deans have likewise expressed support for the legality of the June 3 session and the actions taken during the proceedings.
Tayam said he brought the matter to the Supreme Court to settle conflicting interpretations circulating among legal observers and the public.
“The Supreme Court has the final say on this issue,” he said.
ia/xf
