ASEANEWS HEADLINE-GOVERNMENT | MANILA: Marcos Jr. may call special session of Congress

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Marcos could call special session of Congress as Senate gridlock delays legislative work | ANC

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Here are the stories that made it to ANC’s “Top Story.” (June 4, 2026).

• Two factions in the Senate continue to wrestle for control of the upper chamber.
• 18 supposed ex-marines claim to have delivered suitcases of money to various minority senators, House lawmakers, and even to President Marcos.
• The Palace and lawmakers implicated by the group swiftly denying the allegations.
• Disgraced government contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya, charged with graft and malversation over anomalous flood control projects.

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MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos is ready to call for a special session of Congress to pass priority measures, derailed by the ongoing political ruckus and leadership row in the Senate.

Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos would “act immediately” on an official request by the new Senate leadership for a special session.“Yes, the President is inclined to give in to the official request for the special session. Why? If many (bills) are disrupted because of such developments, the President would not want the work of the Senate to be disrupted,” Castro told a press briefing at Malacañang.

She said the bill prohibiting political dynasties is one of the measures the President wants to see passed. Marcos had also called for the passage of a supplemental budget to fund programs aimed at helping sectors hit by the impact of the Middle East conflict.

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Earlier, acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, who was installed to the leadership by his allies last Wednesday, said senators are considering holding a special session to tackle pending bills and appointments affected by the leadership dispute in the chamber.

He noted that three session days were lost because of the political discord in the Senate, which saw two dramatic leadership changes in less than a month.

Castro said it would be up to the senators to sort out their internal problems.

“But as far as the Palace is concerned, we recognize the leadership of acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. So, whatever
message he will give to the executive, we will recognize it,” the Palace press officer said.

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Gatchalian was elected acting Senate president and Senate president pro tempore by his allies last Wednesday, but it is being contested by the bloc led by Sen. Alan Cayetano, who assumed leadership of the chamber through a coup staged by 13 senators last May 11.

Hours before Gatchalian’s election, Marcos said the Senate was in “disarray” and called on senators to “get back to work” as they need to pass several vital bills.

“The two other departments continue to work. The executive continues to work. The judiciary continues to work… Why does the legislature decide to stop working? I don’t understand that,” Marcos said.