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MANILA, Philippines — A surprise appearance by Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday broke a three-day deadlock in the Senate, allowing the minority bloc led by former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to reclaim key leadership posts, reorganize the chamber, and bring an end — at least temporarily — to a paralysis that had threatened to push the institution into a constitutional crisis.
With Escudero joining the so-called Solid Bloc-11 during the Senate’s final session before sine die adjournment, the chamber achieved a quorum of 12 senators, enabling proceedings to resume after two consecutive days without a session due to the absence of members of the Alan Peter Cayetano-led majority.
As soon as a quorum was established, Sotto promptly moved to declare all positions in the chamber vacant and subsequently nominated Sen. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian for election to the chamber’s second-highest post.
READ: Senate finally convened: Why and how?
