TIMELINE: Coups, gunshots, and standoff in the 2026 Senate mess

The Senate has been mired in successive controversies in a span of less than a month, driven by shifts in political alliances, high-stakes arrests, and the looming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

With conflicting orders from two blocs fighting for the legitimacy and authority of the Senate leadership, Filipinos have seen the upper chamber paralyzed, unable to perform its constitutional mandate. 

At the height of all the chaotic mess, even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. joined many others in expressing disappointment, saying he “watched with horror” what the Senate had become. 

Here’s a timeline of the significant events surrounding the turmoil in the upper chamber. We will update this story as the latest developments unfold.

May 11, 2026 — Senate coup

A Senate coup led by the Duterte-allied bloc ousts Senator Tito Sotto and installs Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president, following the surprise appearance of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. 

Dela Rosa has been in hiding for six months, trying to evade a then-confidential arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his alleged crimes against humanity tied to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. (READ: Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, Rodrigo Duterte’s most loyal soldier)

Dela Rosa claims he is being chased by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to serve the warrant, causing him to slip while running up the stairs.

Dela Rosa seeks Senate protective custody after the incident, prompting Cayetano to order a Senate lockdown. Later that day, the ICC unseals and publicizes the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa.

May 12, 2026 — Bato pleads to Marcos

Senators Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, Ping Lacson, and former Senate president Sotto, in a filed resolution, urge Dela Rosa to “voluntarily surrender to the proper authorities and seek judicial remedies in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws and rules.”

The resolution argues that there is no constitutional or statutory authority that stipulates that the Senate can provide its members “protective custody” or protection from lawful arrest, surrender, or judicial processes.

On the same day, Dela Rosa appeals to Marcos not to enforce the ICC warrant and not to send him to The Hague.

May 13, 2026 — Senate shooting 

During the discussion on Dela Rosa’s case on May 13, Senator Robin Padilla clashes with Pangilinan during a “shouting” incident. Padilla says Senate rules do not provide for senators shouting at each other. Pangilinan later counters that Padilla need not be onion-skinned.

After the commotion, Dela Rosa leaves the plenary session just past 4 pm and goes live on Facebook by 5 pm. Dela Rosa’s camp claims he is facing an imminent threat of arrest by the NBI.

At around 6 pm, the Supreme Court issues a resolution stating that it will not issue “interim or urgent measures” for Dela Rosa’s request for a temporary restraining order to protect him from the ICC’s warrant.

By 7 pm, the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) tells the media that the Senate will go on lockdown again. Minutes later, journalists see Dela Rosa taking the elevator, but the Senate staff is able to block the media.

At 7:44 pm, members of the Philippine Marines, along with OSAA personnel, march down the right wing of the Senate wearing bulletproof vests and carrying firearms. Minutes later, several gunshots are heard coming from the direction of the Government Service Insurance System building (GSIS). At around 7:57 pm, the articles of impeachment against Sara Duterte arrive at the Senate.

Senator Alan Cayetano goes live on Facebook at around 8:01 pm, claiming that the Senate is “under attack.” Senator Imee Marcos also posts a video echoing the claim and asks why there is a shootout at the Senate.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla arrives at 8:28 pm to “secure” the senators left in the building. By 11:13 pm, Dela Rosa’s lawyers say he is still in the Senate premises. (TIMELINE: Senate shooting incident) 

Various claims circulate online alleging that President Marcos orchestrated the shooting incident and that multiple casualties were recorded. These claims are debunked.

May 14, 2026 — Bato flees the Senate

Cayetano confirms that Dela Rosa had already left the Senate premises but claims that he does not know the latter’s whereabouts. Later reports confirm that Dela Rosa was aided by Padilla in leaving the Senate.

In a video statement, Marcos denies that he ordered either the shooting or the arrest of Dela Rosa. He claims that the administration has not issued any such orders. 

The NBI later also claims that its agents were not on the premises to arrest Dela Rosa, but had been requested by the GSIS to secure their area. The Senate leases the GSIS building.

May 20, 2026 — Pia’s outburst

Senator Pia Cayetano, sister of Alan, takes the floor on May 20 to contest the privilege speech of Hontiveros and delivers an emotional speech, claiming that they felt their lives were gravely under threat during the May 13 shooting incident, while the other bloc did not check on them. 

This sparks internet reactions and spoofs. Senator Erwin Tulfo later disputes Pia’s claim, saying that minority senators checked on their colleagues from the majority in their group chat after the shooting.

May 25, 2026 — Imee’s conspiracy 

During her privilege speech, Senator Marcos shows a video claiming that the minority bloc is silently pushing for charter change to ensure that there would be no elections in 2028. She also claims that the opposing camp is maneuvering to raise the age limit for presidential candidates to block Sara Duterte’s candidacy.

The video immediately draws flak from her co-senators. Sotto and other senators vehemently deny the claims. Senator Migz Zubiri moves to strike Marcos’ presentation from the records, calling it “horrible propaganda.”

“We are becoming a circus because of the type of language being pushed in this august chamber. It’s unparliamentary,” Zubiri says.

May 26, 2026 — Minority walks out

The minority bloc walks out of the session hall after the majority bloc tries to railroad the voting on a motion by Senator Rodante Marcoleta to let senators with “justifiable reasons” attend plenary sessions and vote on motions online.

Marcoleta filed the motion on May 11, following the surprise appearance of Dela Rosa, who has since gone back into hiding to evade the ICC arrest warrant.

The minority bloc allied with Sotto explains that they walked out because, otherwise, the vote would favor the majority, resulting in the approval of the motion — an outcome Zubiri refers to as a “travesty of our [Senate] rules.”

“We strongly condemn what appears to be an attempt to rush a major change in the Senate rules, especially when several members of the minority still wanted to speak and raise serious questions on the floor,” the Senate minority says in a joint statement.

During the debate preceding the walkout, Marcoleta questions Hontiveros’ objection, saying in Filipino: “This is difficult, Mr. President. Without giving meaning to anything. This is why it’s difficult when we don’t have a legal background.”

The remark triggers reactions across the plenary and leads Tulfo to flag it as “ad hominem.” He questions the majority’s push to fast-track deliberations on Marcoleta’s motion, pointing out the possibility that two senators from the majority bloc could also face jail time. 

May 29, 2026 — Jinggoy’s warrant

The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan orders the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, along with former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials — most notably former secretary Manuel Bonoan — over plunder and graft cases related to flood control projects.

This is the third time Estrada has faced a plunder charge. In the current case, the senator was implicated by former DPWH assistant engineer Brice Hernandez, who claimed that Estrada received P355-million worth of kickbacks from the 2025 Hagonoy and Malolos flood control projects in Bulacan. 

On the same day, during an interview while on a state visit to Japan, the President joins others in expressing disappointment over the chaotic situation in the Senate. He describes the ongoing events as highly concerning, adding that he is watching them unfold with horror. Marcos had previously served as a senator.

June 1, 2026 — Jinggoy’s arrest

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group serves the warrant against Estrada. Before being transferred to the new Quezon City Jail in Payatas, Estrada vows during his press briefing that he would remain loyal to the majority bloc.

Alan Peter Cayetano and other majority bloc senators accompany Estrada during his arrest, which paralyzes the Senate because of a lack of a quorum required to open the plenary session. (READ: Senate deadlock at 11-11: What it means for majority and minority blocs)

Aside from the session boycott, Cayetano resorts to his old playbook of turning off the air-conditioning and Wi-Fi in the session hall.

June 2, 2026 — Majority skips session again

Cayetano and his fellow majority bloc members skip the session for a second consecutive time, resulting in the failure of the Senate to discuss important measures. Among these is the anti-hospital detention bill, which is intended to benefit patients who cannot afford to pay their hospital bills.

The minority bloc is present in the plenary hall, but because a quorum is not reached, no session is held.

June 3, 2026 — Another coup; Gatchalian as acting Senate president

With the surprise appearance of Senator Chiz Escudero — despite the majority bloc led by Cayetano failing to show up for a third consecutive day — a quorum is declared by invoking the Avelino v. Cuenco doctrine. This is followed by a motion to declare all Senate positions vacant, and the election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president pro tempore and acting Senate president.

During the session, Tulfo is also appointed as the new chairperson of the blue ribbon committee. Tulfo says the hearing on the flood control probe will be moved to June 8 to give THE new members of the committee time to study and formulate questions for the resource speakers.

But Cayetano insists on Facebook that he is still the Senate president despite the approval of the motion to declare all positions vacant. Cayetano’s camp refuses to recognize the validity of the 12-member quorum, insisting that a quorum requires the presence of 13 senators.

June 4, 2026 — Clashing sides

Pia Cayetano, along with her allies, still pushes through with the blue ribbon committee hearing on flood control corruption despite the June 3 appointment of Tulfo as the new chairperson. 

The Senate website had earlier canceled the hearing, with Pia saying that she had withdrawn her invitation to the 18 alleged former Marines who were to serve as resource speakers. (READ: Cayetanos’ contested Senate hearing gives ‘ex-Marines’ platform to attack enemies)

Before the hearing, Remulla engages in a heated exchange with Padilla over a supposed attempt to block the resource speakers, Padilla, and Pia from entering the plenary hall. 

Remulla denies blocking Padilla, Pia, and the resource speakers. He explains he is just protecting himself from the crowd near the door, adding that it takes at least 100 people to block the entrance, and he is alone.

Gatchalian had previously issued a memorandum allowing Senate employees to work from home as a preemptive measure to ensure safety and peace within the chamber.

Meanwhile, Alan Peter Cayetano’s camp insists that “the Office of the Senate President remains fully operational, and the incumbent Senate President continues to hold and exercise the powers, functions, and prerogatives of the said office.” (READ: Ousted speaker, ousted Senate president: Cayetano can’t easily accept defeat)

The two blocs continue to fight for control and authority over the Senate, issuing clashing orders. – Rappler.com