Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has affirmed that Senate operations and scheduled committee hearings will continue as usual, despite a work-from-home arrangement implemented by Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian.
In a memorandum released on June 3, Cayetano stated that he will continue to fulfill his duties as head of the Senate. The Blue Ribbon Committee hearing scheduled for Thursday, previously chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano before it was transferred to Senator Erwin Tulfo, will proceed as planned. The directive also covers all other committee hearings that had been previously scheduled.
Cayetano ordered all Senate officials and employees assigned to committee tasks to provide full cooperation and necessary support to ensure the smooth conduct of the hearings. Specifically, he instructed the facilitation of resource persons, witnesses, and other guests for the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings. The memorandum emphasized that all security and access protocols for the hearings will be implemented in accordance with directives from the Office of the Senate President and the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Furthermore, all Senate officials and employees were directed to continue performing their duties in line with their sworn service, existing laws, Civil Service rules, and official directives from the Senate President. The memorandum was issued amid ongoing tensions within the Senate following leadership changes after Wednesday's session.
