MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court En Banc has thrown out a petition questioning the validity of the Senate’s June 3 session, which saw major shifts in chamber leadership and updates to its internal impeachment proceedings.
In an August 26, 2026 resolution, the high tribunal dismissed the petition for certiorari brought by lawyers Valeriano Loon and Zigfred Diaz, who filed the challenge as taxpayers and officers of the court acting in the public interest.
The magistrates ruled that the petitioners failed to demonstrate that Senate officials acted with grave abuse of discretion.
The Court affirmed that the proceedings during the disputed session “appear[s] to be in accord with the facts and applicable law and jurisprudence.”
The June 3 session opened after 12 lawmakers established a quorum, leading the chamber to declare its top leadership positions vacant. Senators subsequently selected Senator Win Gatchalian to serve as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President.
During the same proceedings, the body voted to revise its impeachment rules, establishing a mechanism to select a presiding officer for trials that do not involve the President.
By dismissing the petition, the Supreme Court leaves all leadership decisions and procedural amendments adopted during the session fully intact.