Senate suspends 2026 budget debates following Enrile's passing

The Senate on Thursday suspended its plenary deliberations on the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) earlier than expected, following the announcement of the death of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. 

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri made the motion to suspend the session past 6:20 p.m., citing historical tradition. With no objections, this was approved by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. 

The plenary debates on the 2026 budget are set to resume at 1 p.m. on Monday, November 17. 

Heads of agencies who were present on Thursday during the first day of the budget debates will be invited again to attend the session on Monday to continue the deliberations. 

Among those that were set to be tackled during the session on Thursday were the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance (DOF), and Department of Economic, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), all sponsored by the Senate finance committee chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. 

The Philippine flag at the Senate was also lowered to half-mast to mourn Enrile's passing.

Senators honor Enrile

Several senators also honored Enrile's after his passing.

For Sotto, Enrile's legacy "will live on, etched within the walls of the Senate and his service to the nation will forever be in the hearts of many Filipinos."

“He has dedicated his whole life, even until his last days, to public service. We will remember him for his formidable intellect and his compassion for the people, especially for the employees of the Senate,” Sotto said in a statement. 

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, a former Senate President himself, also paid tribute to Enrile, whom he described as “like a father, instilling the values of discipline and service” during his first term at the upper chamber. 

“When I assumed the Senate presidency, I was proud to sponsor Senate Resolution No. 1223, honoring JPE for his long and distinguished service. With his passing, the nation has lost a true son of the Republic,” Escudero said. 

Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, also a former Senate President, also recalled fond memories with Enrile. 

“Hindi ko malilimutan ang kanyang sipag sa pag-aaral ng mga panukalang batas at ang talas ng kanyang pag-iisip sa plenaryo at sa mga pagdinig. He was also generous with his time toward younger colleagues who sought his counsel, and many in public service today can say they learned valuable lessons on preparation, argumentation and institutional memory from observing him at work,” Zubiri said. 

(I will never forget his diligence in studying bills and the sharpness of his mind during the plenary and in hearings.) 

“As he showed excellence at work, in full measure, he recognized the value of each Senate employee. He was true to his motto: Gusto ko happy ka (I want you to be happy),” he added. 

Other senators who expressed their sympathies to the bereaved family of Enrile were Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Lito Lapid, JV Ejercito, Win Gatchalian, and Joel Villanueva. 

Katrina Ponce Enrile said that her father passed away at 4:21 p.m. on Thursday. He was 101 years old.

Enrile was elected to the Senate in 1987 and served until 1992. He was again elected to the Senate in 1995 and served until 2010. He returned to the Senate and served consecutive terms from 2004 to 2010, and from 2010 to 2016.

Enrile also served as Senate President from 2008 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2013. –NB/RF, GMA Integrated News