Pro-Duterte group in Cebu eyes Manila rally if…

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A PRO-Duterte group in Cebu threatened it may bring its protest to Manila if the “persecution” of senators allied with former president Rodrigo Duterte worsens amid the ongoing leadership dispute in the Senate.

Members of Hakbang Maisug-Cebu on Thursday, June 4, gathered at Plaza Independencia to express support for the group of senators they referred to as the “brave Senate 12.”

This follows the controversial Senate leadership realignment that saw Senator Sherwin Gatchalian assume the role of Senate President Pro Tempore.

Jun Abines, spokesperson of Maisug-Cebu, said the gathering was meant to show that Cebuano supporters were closely monitoring developments in Manila and were dissatisfied with recent events in the Senate.

“This is just the beginning,” Abines said.

Abines claimed that many Duterte supporters in Cebu felt angered and disheartened by developments in the Senate, but said that distance from the capital limited their ability to participate directly in demonstrations.

He also questioned the legitimacy of the Senate proceedings that led to the leadership shake-up, adopting arguments by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies that the session lacked a constitutional quorum.

According to Abines, the Senate’s 24-member composition means at least 13 senators are needed to constitute a quorum.

He argued that detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa should still be counted in determining quorum, maintaining that their absence should not reduce the required number of senators needed for Senate business.

Abines further criticized Malacañang’s position recognizing the leadership of acting Senate president Gatchalian, saying the executive branch should not determine questions involving Senate procedure and leadership.

The protest also featured former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama, who described the Senate dispute as troubling and raised concerns about its implications for democratic institutions.

Rama argued that the Senate’s interpretation of quorum rules departed from the traditional understanding that a majority of the chamber’s 24 members, or 13 senators, is required to conduct official business.

“If there are 24 senators, the quorum is 13,” Rama said.

“They cannot simply be ignored because they are still part of the Senate.”

The gathering drew an estimated 200 to 300 participants, according to Abines, although he acknowledged that more supporters from Cebu’s provinces had expressed interest in joining future activities.

The protest comes a day after a dramatic Senate realignment on June 3, when Sen. Francis Escudero joined 11 senators in the plenary hall, allowing the chamber to proceed with a session that ultimately declared all leadership and committee positions vacant.

The group subsequently elected Gatchalian as Senate president pro tempore, while Senator Miguel Zubiri was named majority leader.

Several committee chairmanships were also reassigned, including the Blue Ribbon Committee, which was handed to Senator Erwin Tulfo.

However, Cayetano rejected the move and insisted he remains the “legitimate, legal and moral” Senate president.

He and his allies have maintained that the session lacked the constitutionally required quorum of 13 senators and have described the leadership change as an “illegal coup.”

On Thursday, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) issued a statement supporting the legality of the June 3 Senate session.

The IBP cited the 1949 Supreme Court ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco, commonly referred to as the “Avelino doctrine,” which allows a quorum to be determined based on members whom the Senate can compel to attend.

Under this interpretation, the IBP said Estrada, who remains detained, and Dela Rosa, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, may be considered beyond the Senate’s reach.

Excluding them from the effective membership leaves 22 senators, making 12 sufficient to constitute a quorum.

The lawyers’ group also emphasized that constitutional provisions should be interpreted in a manner that allows the Senate to function and avoid institutional paralysis.(TGP)