CHIZ ARRIVES AT THE PLENARY, COMPLETES REQUIRED QUORUM OF 12 SENATORS

THE two-day Senate impasse ended on Wednesday when Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero arrived at the plenary completing the required quorum of 12 senators.

Escudero’s arrival broke the two-day deadlock, allowing the chamber to resume operations.

Members of the minority bloc were surprised with the arrival of the veteran senator from Bicol , a member of the majority.

Escudero’s arrival was met with applause from the gallery of the session hall and from some of the senators at the plenary.

The Bicolano senator entered the session hall around 3 p.m. Wednesday. joining the 11 members of the minority group, who had arrived ahead of him. 

With the 12 senators present, a roll call was made, quorum was declared and all chamber positions were declared vacant, clearing the way for a reorganization of the Senate leadership.

Escudero, in a statement said, the impasse in the Senate is untenable and unacceptable.

He said political divisions become too extreme and obstruct their mandate.

“We must all have the courage to pause, gain perspective, reflect, consider and realize that we should put the Senate, as the institution that we serve, above ourselves,” Escudero said.

“This is not a political contest. I am not taking sides. I am taking a stand for the Senate. My allegiance is not to any faction, personality, group or alliance. This is not about loyalty, betrayal, or choosing one group over the other—this is about duty,” he added.

“Ito ang dahilan ng aking pasya ngayong araw na ito. Hinihiling ko ang inyong pag-unawa sa amin, kasabay ng inyong panalangin para sa inyong Senado na malampasan ang hamon na ito at patuloy na magampanan namin ang aming tungkulin sa inyo at sa sambayanan,”  Escudero said.

The Senate impasse began after members of the majority bloc headed by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano “boycotted” plenary sessions, leaving the chamber without the required quorum.

The “standoff” was triggered by the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada over plunder and graft charges involving flood control projects.