The planned “all-member” Senate caucus was narrowed down to a majority-only session on Wednesday, according to Senator Erwin Tulfo, explaining why nearly half the chamber had already vacated the premises before gunshots rang out at the complex.
Tulfo revealed on Thursday that the initial directive from the leadership promised a consultative meeting involving both the majority and minority blocs.
“Early in the day po, nagsabi si (Senate President Alan Peter) Cayetano na meron pong caucus all members, ibig sabihin kasama minority.”
However, the senator noted that the arrangement was abruptly altered as the day progressed.
“Pero nagbago po ito nung bandang hapon na majority na lamang po.”
Due to the change in schedule, Tulfo and ten other colleagues left the Senate building shortly after the plenary session concluded. This departure meant they were no longer on-site when more than a dozen gunshots were reportedly heard within the Senate complex later that evening.
According to Tulfo, the remaining 13 members of the majority bloc stayed behind to finalize the chamber’s internal reorganization following Monday’s leadership coup.
“Ang naiwan na lang po majority kasi nga po may caucus po sila regarding, ang pagkaintindi ko po, may caucus sila on assignments ng mga committees.”
The move follows a massive shake-up that installed Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate President, replacing Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who has since returned to the role of Minority Leader.
The coup effectively vacated all 41 standing committees and various ad hoc panels.
As of Thursday morning, the new committee assignments remain unpublicized.