Erwin Tulfo: Cayetano bloc SC petition moot after Sherwin Gatchalian election

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday said the petition filed by the bloc of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano before the Supreme Court (SC) may have become moot and academic following the election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President earlier in the day.

Tulfo, however, clarified that his statement was not intended to pre-empt the High Court’s ruling.

“Ayaw ko pangunahan ang SC. Nasa sa kanila po ‘yun. Pero ano pa ho ang hihingin niyang TRO, eh 13 na po kami ngayong araw na ito, so lalabas po moot and academic ‘yung kanyang isinampa sa SC,” Tulfo told GMA News.

(I do not want to pre-empt the SC. That is up to them. But what TRO would he still be asking for when we already have 13 members as of today? So it would appear that the petition he filed before the SC has become moot and academic.)

“Pero tulad po ng sinabi ko, nasa SC pa rin po ang desisyon (But as I said, the decision still rests with the SC),” he said.

On Tuesday, Senators Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, and Camille Villar urged the High Court to declare the June 3 session null and void.

The session elected Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore.

They also asked the SC to issue a status quo ante order, reverting the parties and conditions to before the questioned proceedings on June 3, 2026.

However, early Wednesday morning, Cayetano conceded his post.

The Senate later convened a special session where Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri nominated Gatchalian as Senate President. Senator Francis Pangilinan said all 13 senators present voted unanimously.

Senator Loren Legarda, meanwhile, said the June 17 election should not affect their petition.

“I’m not the SC but it should not because the June 3 is a different issue. That was 12. You just answered my question. It’s 13 today,” she said.

Legarda also extended her congratulations to Gatchalian, Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III, and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.

When sought for comment on the status of Cayetano’s petition, SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said, “We will have to wait for the Court’s action.” —MCG/VBL, GMA News