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The Senate is preparing for a special session on Wednesday, June 17, with acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian calling on all members of the upper chamber to attend.
The special session is set to begin at 9:00 AM and is expected to conclude by 4:00 or 5:00 PM.
The session follows Proclamation No. 1318 issued by Malacañang, in which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for a special session to take urgent action on priority legislation aimed at strengthening social protection.
Gatchalian issued a statement encouraging all senators, whether from the majority or minority bloc, to attend.
"Nag-issue ako ng statement, encouraging all senators regarding majority or minority to attend," he said.
[Nag-isyu ako ng pahayag, hinihikayat ang lahat ng senador mula sa mayorya o minorya na dumalo.]
The acting Senate president emphasized the importance of passing pending measures and urged his colleagues not to waste the opportunity.
"Well, para sa akin, importante na we approve all of these bills. Huwag natin sayangin yung special session dahil this is an opportunity sa atin na matapos yung mga nabinbin. So, yeah, that's why importante na yung mga senators natin maka-attend bukas," Gatchalian said.
[Para sa akin, mahalaga na maaprubahan natin ang lahat ng mga panukalang batas na ito. Huwag nating sayangin ang special session dahil ito ay pagkakataon natin na matapos ang mga nabinbing bagay. Kaya naman, mahalaga na ang ating mga senador ay makarating bukas.]
Among the measures set to be tackled are the Geriatric Health Bill, the expansion of the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or GASTPE voucher system from Grade 1 to Grade 6, a resolution for additional assistance to earthquake victims in Mindanao, two citizenship bills, and two proposals in the agriculture sector.
Also on the agenda is the long-delayed confirmation of officials at the Commission on Appointments.
"These are very important matters, lalo na yung sa CA. In fact, yung sa CA, lumampas na nga sa time na dapat ibigay natin sa mga generals. But, importante kasi ito, hindi sila mapo-promote at makaka-apekto ito sa kanilang mga gagawin later on. Nakausap ko si Speaker these past few days at committed sila to come in. So full force sila na darating sa CA," Gatchalian said.
[Napakahalaga ng mga bagay na ito, lalo na ang sa CA. Sa katunayan, ang sa CA ay lumampas na sa oras na dapat nating ibigay sa mga heneral. Ngunit mahalaga ito dahil hindi sila mapo-promote at maaapektuhan nito ang kanilang mga gagawin sa hinaharap. Nakausap ko si Speaker nitong nakalipas na ilang araw at committed sila na pumunta. Kaya full force silang darating sa CA.]
Heightened security measures will also be in place inside and outside the Senate in connection with the special session. Gatchalian disclosed that he had met with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police regarding a reported security threat, and that both institutions recommended maintaining heightened security status.
"Yes, so this is in preparation for tomorrow's special session and as well as yung security threat na makukuha natin. So tuloy-tuloy yung aking coordination until malaman natin na wala na ganitong threat or pwede na natin ma-manage yung mga ganitong threat," he said.
[Oo, ito ay paghahanda para sa espesyal na sesyon bukas pati na rin ang banta sa seguridad na ating natatanggap. Kaya tuloy-tuloy ang aking koordinasyon hanggang sa malaman natin na wala nang ganitong banta o kaya ay mapamahalaan na natin ang mga ganitong banta.]
Meanwhile, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano questioned the declared heightened security at the Senate, noting that access had been restricted even to fellow senators and their visitors in the days prior.
"Nagbigay lang akong notice na Thursday may Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing sa session hall. Biglang may threat na daw pero hindi ma-confirm nung ibang security forces. Pero bukas sa session pwede ng ulit gamitin at pwede tayong lahat. Pero today and yesterday bawal na ang mga senador may bisita. So hindi ba lockdown din yon? Paulit-ulit sila bantayan daw ako. Baka daw padlakin ko yung senado. Eh basically pinadlock na nila eh 'di ba na sino? Sila na nagde-determine pwedeng sinong pwedeng pumasok o hindi," Cayetano said.
[Nagbigay lang ako ng abiso na Huwebes may Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing sa session hall. Bigla na lang may banta raw pero hindi ma-confirm ng ibang security forces. Pero bukas sa session pwede na ulit gamitin at pwede tayong lahat. Pero ngayon at kahapon bawal na ang mga senador na may bisita. Kaya hindi ba lockdown din iyon? Paulit-ulit nilang sinasabi na binabantayan nila ako. Baka raw padlakin ko ang senado. Eh basically pinadlock na nila — sino ba? Sila na ang nagde-determine kung sino ang pwedeng pumasok o hindi.]
Cayetano further alleged that the special session was being used to change the Senate leadership and take control of the Blue Ribbon Committee.
"Special session we continue to discuss but obvious sa amin ang target dito ay kunin ang blue ribbon committee at i-secure yung Senate Presidency," he said.
[Patuloy naming tatalakayin ang special session ngunit obvious sa amin na ang target dito ay kunin ang Blue Ribbon Committee at i-secure ang Senate Presidency.]
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Date posted: June 16, 2026 6:25 PM