The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has firmly asserted that the Senate session held on June 3 was legal and valid, addressing questions regarding the existence of a quorum. In a statement, the IBP based its position on the Supreme Court's ruling in the 1949 case Avelino v. Cuenco.
According to the IBP, all actions, resolutions, and decisions made during the session—including the election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and the appointment of new committee heads—are considered official and binding. The IBP explained that the presence of 12 senators was sufficient to constitute a quorum because two senators were deemed unavailable to perform their duties in the Senate. These include Senator Jinggoy Estrada, currently detained in connection with a plunder case, and Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, whose whereabouts remain undetermined. As a result, only 22 senators were considered available members, making the presence of 12 senators adequate to form a quorum.
The issue arose after the Majority bloc, led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, again failed to attend the plenary session. However, Senator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero attended and joined the 11 minority members, completing the required number for a quorum.
In a separate statement, the camp of Senator Gatchalian emphasized that the quorum should be based on the number of senators capable of performing their duties. They noted that this aligns with the Supreme Court's interpretation that 12 members out of the total 23 senators can form a constitutional majority for a Senate quorum.
