Published June 3, 2026 11:56pm + Add GMA on Google Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google. Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday evening authorized Senate offices to shift to a work-from-home setup on Thursday, June 4, saying there was no official business on that date.The work-from-home setup coincided with the hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control mess announced by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.According to the memorandum issued hours after Gatchalian was elected Senate Pro Tempore, the work-from-home setup would give way “to the organization of committees under the new chairpersons." It said no official business had been scheduled for that date.“In light of these developments and to preserve the neutrality of the Senate bureaucracy, all Senate Secretariat and Senate Proper offices are hereby authorized to work-from-home (WFH) on the said date,” the memorandum read.Saying he was still "the legitimate, legal, and moral Senate President," Cayetano said the hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee would proceed as scheduled on Thursday.The Blue Ribbon Committee, under his leadership, is chaired by his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano.“But tomorrow, tuloy ang hearing ng Blue Ribbon Committee. I am still the legitimate, legal, and moral Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines, and there are still functioning committees. We have to hear the testimonies. Invited po pati yung mga gumawa ng ilegal ngayon,” Cayetano said on Facebook.(But tomorrow, the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing will proceed. I am still the legitimate, legal, and moral Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines, and there are still functioning committees. We have to hear the testimonies. Even those who committed illegal acts today are invited.)Cayetano also warned of a constitutional crisis and protests if a padlocked Senate would get in the way of the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.Among those invited to the hearing are Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and the 18 Marines who said they delivered bags of cash to politicians.“Do not padlock the Senate. Do not use the excuse that there is a rally; there is always a rally at the Senate anyway," Cayetano said."Do not tempt the Filipino people to come out in thousands, [hundreds of] thousands, and millions,” he added.Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who was elected chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Wednesday, said the hearing will push through on Monday, June 8.In the memorandum, Gatchalian noted that the recent events at the chamber “have affected not only the ability of the Senate to fulfill its mandate but more so, the morale of its employees who have quietly been holding the line, doing their sworn duty despite the untenable political climate which they had nothing to do with.”“No officer or employee shall be deemed insubordinate, absent without leave, or otherwise administratively responsible for opting to avail of the arrangement,” it read.“The Senate leadership remains committed to protecting their welfare, preserving their professional integrity, and ensuring that no employee acting in good faith shall be subjected to intimidation, retaliation, or unwarranted administrative action.” —NB, GMA News