Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan criticized the Senate’s failure to convene due to a lack of quorum, saying urgent national concerns should take precedence over politics.
Pangilinan issued the statement on Monday after the chamber failed to hold its scheduled June 1 session, as majority senators did not show up, preventing the conduct of official business.
“Handa kaming magtrabaho, pero ayon sa Senate rules, kung wala ang Senate President o walang quorum, walang session,” Pangilinan said.
The senator stressed that several pressing issues require immediate legislative attention, particularly those affecting vulnerable sectors.
“Madaming nakaabang na trabaho. Kumakalam ang sikmura ng ating mga kababayan,” he said, pointing to persistent hunger and economic hardship among Filipinos.
Pangilinan also warned of looming threats to the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk, citing the potential impact of a developing super El Niño.
“Nanganganib na naman ang kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda dahil sa nalalapit na super El Niño,” he said.
He criticized the government’s inability to adhere to its own rules, saying this undermines its capacity to address the needs of ordinary citizens.
“Ang gobyernong hindi kayang sundin ang sarili nitong patakaran, hindi kayang solusyunan ang problema ng mga magsasaka, mangingisda, manggagawa, at ordinaryong pamilyang Pilipino,” Pangilinan said.
He emphasized that political matters can wait, but the needs of the public cannot.
“Makapaghihintay ang pulitika, pero ang gutom hindi,” he said.
The Senate minority bloc, known as the Solid Bloc 11, criticized the absence of the majority during the scheduled plenary session, describing it as a “boycott of duty” that disrupted legislative work and delayed key measures.
The group said its members were present during the 5:00 p.m. resumption of session and were ready to deliberate on pending legislation, but alleged that the majority, led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, failed to appear and did not formally inform them of their absence.
