Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday night ordered Senate officials to keep the Senate premises open for the scheduled Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on June 4 on the alleged flood control scam.
Cayetano first issued the directive during an online broadcast on June 3, 2026, after denouncing what he called an illegitimate “coup d’etat” by 12 senators who moved to install Senator Win Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore.
Later in the evening, Cayetano released a memorandum addressed to all Senate officials and personnel, asserting that the Office of the Senate President remains operational and has the authority to proceed with scheduled committee hearings during the sine die adjournment.
“I’m issuing a memo to the Secretariat and to the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to keep the Senate open tomorrow. We will have the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. As Senate President, nasa authority ko po ang premises ng Senado,” Cayetano said, directing Acting Sergeant-at-Arms Manuel Parlade and Senate Secretary Atty. Jose Montales.
Cayetano had earlier announced on May 29 that the Blue Ribbon Committee would continue its high-profile inquiry into the alleged flood control scam.
The committee, chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano, invited former House Speaker and Leyte First District Rep. Martin Romualdez, 18 former Marines who allegedly corroborated earlier testimony before the panel, retired Sergeant Orly Guteza, and representatives from concerned agencies.
Following the move by the Gatchalian bloc, which Cayetano described as illegal, he also rejected the replacement of the Senate Secretary and the Sergeant-at-Arms, as well as the declaration of vacancies in all committee leadership posts.
He warned Senate officials against restricting access to the Senate complex.
“Do not padlock the Senate. Do not have an excuse na may rally. Parati namang may rally sa Senado. Do not tempt the Filipino people to come out in thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions,” Cayetano said.
“I will go to the Senate before 10 o’clock. I will do what I can to open the session hall, and our hearings will be there,” he added.
Cayetano said the public should be more interested in the testimony of the 18 former Marines following the Senate leadership dispute, noting that Senator Erwin Tulfo, whom he said was identified by the Marines as among those who allegedly received kickbacks from flood control projects, had been named committee chairperson.
“Senator Erwin is not the legal chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Committee. Senator Pia Cayetano is the chairperson because there was no quorum. There was no session under the law that took place,” Cayetano said.
He maintained that 13 senators are needed to establish a quorum and approve valid motions.
Cayetano also appealed to Senate employees to speak out against what he described as an unlawful takeover of the chamber.
“I believe that all of you love the Senate. So, it’s time to speak up, to tell your bosses, whether sila y’ung nasa Majority o Minority, that we won’t stand for this,” he said.
“Because, there’s no difference of padlocking the Senate during Martial Law sa ginagawa nila ngayon na pinupunit, binubura, binabasura, at sinusunog ang ating Philippine Constitution,” he added.