LIVE UPDATES: Senate leadership dispute continues

MANILA, Philippines – Senators aligned with opposing factions on Thursday have traded barbs once again, with each side asserting legitimacy over key positions. Bookmark this page to stay updated with the latest news and features related to the Senate saga. Senate majority hits Cayetano bloc hearing: Bogus, naked grab for power June 4 , 2026 – 01:29 PM The new Senate majority bloc on Thursday branded as “bogus” and a “naked grab for power” a hearing conducted by some minority colleagues Read more ‘Ex-marines’ repeat kickback claims; Sotto, Tulfo named June 4 , 2026 – 01:25 PM The 18 ex-Marines reiterated their accusations that lawmakers, including Senators Tito Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo, received money from Zaldy Co. Read more Cayetano dares Matibag to attend blue ribbon hearing June 4 , 2026 – 01:06 PM Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday challenged NBI director Melvin Matibag to appear before the Senate blue ribbon committee. Read more Detained Jinggoy Estrada rejects Wednesday’s Senate quorum June 4 , 2026 – 12:14 PM Detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has rejected the quorum of a slim majority as declared by Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian. Read more Alan Peter Cayetano is a ‘disgrace to the Senate’ — Negros lawmaker June 4 , 2026 – 12:04 PM Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV called Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano a “disgrace to the Senate” after Cayetano led a boycott that left the chamber paralyzed. Read more June 4 , 2026 02:05 PM 'SINO ANG SUSUNDIN NIYO?'Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano calls on Senate employees to clarify which leadership they will follow following the recent Senate leadership changes, noting that his successor has not yet been elected.READ RELATED STORY: https://t.co/z6e0c2wABW pic.twitter.com/uBt9ZiFQmv — Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 4, 2026 June 4 , 2026 12:40 PM WATCH: Senator Pia Cayetano reacts to the commotion between SILG Jonvic Remulla and Senator Robin Padilla, and herself, when they went down to the Senate lobby after their invited resource persons had difficulty proceeding to the Cayetano-led senate hearing. | @bellepechayINQ … pic.twitter.com/TQZbssruzO — Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 4, 2026 Legarda: I haven’t resigned yet as Senate president pro tempore June 4 , 2026 – 11:55 AM Sen. Loren Legarda insisted on Thursday that she remains the Senate president pro tempore and has not yet resigned from the post. Read more June 4 , 2026 12:22 PM ‘PROMOTOR NG BEND THE LAW’Senator Rodante Marcoleta accused the Gatchalian-led bloc of sabotaging the Blue Ribbon Committee's flood-control probe on Thursday, June 4, calling them "promoters of bending the law."Marcoleta said that the bloc would "do anything" to halt the… pic.twitter.com/wuVJJQq07Y — Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 4, 2026 June 4 , 2026 12:22 PM ‘HINDI AI, BUHAY NA BUHAY’Sen. Loren Legarda maintains that she remains the Senate President Pro Tempore despite the election of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to the post on Wednesday, as she attended the Cayetano-led Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday and described those… pic.twitter.com/xQI5yV2v2A — Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 4, 2026 June 4 , 2026 12:22 PM BREAKING: NBI Director Melvin Matibag has revealed that the NBI received information that former Congressman Mike Defensor allegedly bribed each of the “18 ex-Marines” P5 million to provide testimony regarding the flood control anomalies.Matibag said the testimony came from an… pic.twitter.com/Wx76PzsfjG — Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 4, 2026 June 4 , 2026 12:22 PM UPDATE: While Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was being processed following his arrest last Monday, no orange detainee shirt could fit him, CIDG NCR chief Col. John Guiagui explains.This comes as mugshots of Estrada began circulating online in which the senator is seen only holding the… pic.twitter.com/yKzXulcsS2 — Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 4, 2026 June 4 , 2026 12:16 PM Did DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla block Sens. Robin Padilla and Pia Cayetano and the 18 alleged ex-Marines from entering the Senate? "How can I do that? I was alone," Remulla tells the Inquirer in a text message when asked this question."I was walking out when I was pushed… pic.twitter.com/3vO4rKUjRf — Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 4, 2026 June 4 , 2026 12:16 PM LOOK: Newly-Installed Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian has released a new advisory, authorizing Senate employees to leave the office starting 10 a.m. this Thursday. | @MAgerINQ pic.twitter.com/xFJPwllIJm — Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 4, 2026 June 4 , 2026 12:16 PM ‘MARTIAL LAW BA TAYO NGAYON?’Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano questions why Blue Ribbon Committee resource persons are barred from entering the Senate, noting that guests are allowed and that the Senate President controls the premises under the rules. | via Reymond Salgan,… pic.twitter.com/S9oy9y7Odv — Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 4, 2026 June 4 , 2026 12