Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—The Senate’s technical and maintenance departments have officially clarified the sudden internet and air-conditioning disruptions reported in the Senate Session Hall on June 1, 2026. 

The official investigations directly address public allegations made by Senator Raffy Tulfo, who claimed that the building's Wi-Fi and cooling systems were deliberately switched off after the majority bloc staged a "no-show" during the plenary session.

“Pinatayan kami ng aircon, pinatayan kami ng internet, pati yung aircon sa CR, pinatayan na rin." Senator Raffy Tulfo told reporters in the Senate.

According to an official memorandum from the Maintenance and Physical Facilities Service (MPFS), the sudden temperature spike inside the Session Hall was caused by an unexpected technical failure rather than sabotage. 

The report notes that an electrical circuit breaker located at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) which supplies power to the Senate’s Air Handling Units (AHUs) tripped at approximately 5:30 PM. 

The power loss impacted multiple floors, and tech teams successfully restored the centralized air conditioning by 6:20 PM after coordinating with GSIS.

Simultaneously, the Management Information Systems (MIS) Service strongly denied any internet connectivity issues in a separate memorandum. 

Signed by MIS Service Director III Mario Antonio R. Sulit, the document confirms there was "NO disruption whatsoever" to internet services, particularly during the 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM session window. 

Network monitoring data actually showed wireless traffic peaking at this time, proving that users in the hall remained actively connected to the Wi-Fi.

PASAY CITY—The Senate Committee on Basic Education moved aggressively on June 2, to overhaul the nation's schooling system, gathering key stakeholders to debate a sweeping package of reform bills. 

Led by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, lawmakers confronted deep-seated gaps in school administration, slow student performance, and underutilized private sector partnerships. 

The panel's aggressive push signals a legislative rush to modernize education governance and reverse the ongoing learning crisis among Filipino students.

Central to the discussions was Senate Bill No. 1853, which aims to establish a mandatory K to 3 Foundational Learning and Nurturing Care Program. 

Senator Legarda emphasized that targeting these critical early years is vital for ensuring young learners lock down essential literacy, numeracy, and emotional skills before falling behind. 

Lawmakers also hammered out critical updates to the Governance of Basic Education Act and proposed amendments to scale up the Adopt-A-School Act, aiming to pull in massive private sector support.

"Taken together, these measures reflect a shared objective: to ensure that our education system is better governed, better coordinated, and better equipped to deliver quality learning opportunities," Senator Legarda highlighted. 

Education officials and private sector leaders actively weighed in on the proposals, aligning resources to create a more unified, functional network for the country's youth. 

The committee is expected to consolidate these bills into a single major legislative push to fast-track classroom implementation.

PASAY CITY —After a bold walkout protest by the Senate minority bloc on May 27 over a divisive motion manifested on the floor, another fierce standoff gripped the Senate session once again on June 1, as the Senate majority bloc staged a “no-show” in the plenary following the voluntary surrender of Senator Jinggoy Estrada to the PNP-CIDG.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on his social media account urged both majority and minority lawmakers to let the Senate "go quiet" to protest what he framed as an outside assault on the institution’s independence. 

“I am asking you to join one deliberate act — to let the Senate go quiet, together and by choice, so the country is made to ask why a co-equal branch would fall silent rather than be made to serve.” SP Cayetano wrote on his social media post.

He challenged his colleagues to stand together, warning that trading the legal standing of its members would diminish the Senate and, ultimately, the Republic.

“This is not an accusation. I am speaking truth that each senator already knows — the independence of this institution, and the legal standing of any of its members, are not currencies. The day they become things to be traded, is the day that the Senate is diminished. And after the Senate, the Republic.” He continued.

Meanwhile, the 11-member minority bloc immediately fired back and issued a joint statement, rejecting the call and branding the majority's absence from the scheduled 5:00 p.m. session as a "boycott of duty." 

“This is not Senate independence but a boycott of duty. The Solid Bloc 11 minority senators were present today for the 5 p.m. resumption of session, ready to work, ready to vote on pending bills and ready to keep the Senate running, but the majority led by SP Cayetano chose not to show up.” Minority senators said in a joint statement.

Minority senators showed up ready to work, only to find an empty floor. 

They slammed Cayetano for failing to extend the basic courtesy of informing them of the cancellation, stating that the Senate belongs to the Filipino people and not to whoever holds the gavel.

“They did not even have the courtesy to inform us when they ignored the rules, and could not extend the basic decency of telling the minority that they had no intention of convening.”

The minority group, who called themselves as the Solid Bloc 11, argued that the suspension of work has paralyzed vital legislation. 

“Ang Senado ay hindi pag-aari ng iisang may hawak ng gavel. Institusyon ito ng taumbayan at napakadaming mahalagang panukala ang nabibinbin dahil sa drama ng mayorya.”

The group pointed out that unresolved measures now hang in the balance, including the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, the Anti-Hospital Detention Bill, crucial military promotions before the Commission on Appointments, and pending citizenship bills. 

“Important measures were left hanging because of the majority’s boycott, including the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, the Anti-Hospital Detention Bill, the confirmation of generals before the Commission on Appointments and the bills granting Philippine citizenship to Bennie Boatwright III and Matthew James Ramos.”

The bloc emphasized that the arrest of Estrada stems from a lawful process regarding flood control investigations by the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan, which no politician should control.

“This is a boycott because of the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and the public should not be asked to believe another convenient line from a leadership that has repeatedly twisted the truth.”

Accusing Cayetano of using institutional pride as a shield to avoid a leadership challenge, the minority questioned if the Senate President is repeating past tactics from his tenure in the House of Representatives to evade a "test of numbers" on the floor. 

“The public has every right to ask whether SP Cayetano is repeating what he did in the House of Representatives, when questions were raised about a leader refusing to step aside, refusing to convene and holding up proceedings when the numbers were no longer certain.”

The minority bloc demanded that the majority return to work for the remaining session days, declaring that no amount of political drama can erase a senator's basic duty to show up and serve.

“The Senate should open its doors, call the session to order and return to work, because no Facebook post, no appeal to institutional pride and no political drama can erase the basic duty of senators to show up, follow the law and serve the people.”

MANILA—OP Bagong Pilipinas staged a thrilling comeback to squeeze past the AFP Cavaliers, 83-80, in an intense UNTV Cup Season 12 showdown on May 31, at the Paco Arena. 

The hard-fought victory successfully halted the Cavaliers' undefeated run, handing them their very first loss of the season. 

The high-stakes win served as a massive bounce-back for the Office of the President team following a stinging defeat to the Judiciary Magis in their previous elimination round matchup.

Enteng Dalaten carried the heavy burden of pulling the team for their comeback win, delivering a stellar all-around performance to earn Best Player of the Game honors. 

Dalaten anchored the squad by racking up an impressive stat line of 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals. 

His poise and defensive intensity under pressure proved crucial in navigating the closing minutes of the game against the relentless AFP frontline.

Reflecting on the team's strategic execution down the stretch, Dalaten credited their composure and trust in their late-game plays. 

“I-execute lang namin yung play ang tatanggap talaga ng bola sa amin si Ken Aljard, best free throw shooter namin,” Dalaten shared after the game. 

By successfully finding their target options and executing under duress, OP Bagong Pilipinas reestablished themselves as formidable contenders moving forward in the tournament.

MANILA—The PhilHealth Health Insurers finally entered the win column of UNTV Cup Season 12, securing a hard-fought 74-65 victory over the PNP Responders on May 31, at the Paco Arena.

PhilHealth maintained their composure late in the game to lock in their first win of the season. 

The definitive victory simultaneously dealt a heavy blow to the PNP Responders, marking their second consecutive loss in the tournament.

PhilHealth’s rookie Jumil Arumpac anchored the Health Insurers' breakthrough performance, earning well-deserved Best Player of the Game honors. 

Arumpac led the charge by exploding for 17 points, while adding 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals to his stellar stat line. 

His aggressive playmaking and scoring punch provided the precise spark PhilHealth needed to pull away from the Responders.

Reflecting on the team's turnaround, Arumpac credited their strict adherence to the game plan for solving their late-game execution issues. 

“Nag-focus lang po kami sa same play ni coach kasi nung mga previous na laro namin nawawala kami sa huli. So, ngayon naka tatlong beses na kami na talo at sa ending kami nawala, so nag-focus kami sa play ni coach,” Arumpac shared in a post-game interview.

By remaining disciplined down the stretch, the Health Insurers successfully closed out the match and established a blueprint to survive the rest of their Season 12 campaign.