01/06/2026
CAYETANO’S LEADERSHIP NOW HINGES ON A DEADLOCKED CHAMBER
The Senate has slipped into a razor-thin 11–11 balance as of Monday, June 1, after the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada and the continued absence of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who remains in hiding amid an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
Estrada’s removal from active duty and Dela Rosa’s non-attendance effectively wiped out two key majority votes, stripping the bloc of its numerical advantage and leaving both sides evenly matched inside the chamber.
The deadlock leaves control of the Senate hanging on a handful of swing votes, deepening uncertainty over leadership and legislative direction.
