Manila: The 11-member Senate minority bloc on Monday night expressed concerns over the stalling of several key legislative measures. This development came after the majority bloc, led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, did not attend the 5 p.m. resumption of the session. The absence followed the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada. According to Philippines News Agency, the minority senators issued a joint statement asserting their readiness to work, vote on pending bills, and keep the Senate operational. However, they criticized the majority for choosing not to show up. The minority emphasized that significant legislative measures, including the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, the Anti-Hospital Detention Bill, and the confirmation of generals before the Commission on Appointments, among others, were left pending due to the majority's actions. The minority bloc refuted Cayetano's call for a 'quiet' Senate as a stand for institutional independence, arguing that the chamber should not halt its work because of ongoing lawful processes. They described the non-convening of the session as a boycott resulting from Estrada's arrest, rather than a defense of Senate independence. The minority underscored that the Senate floor is the appropriate venue for the majority to express protests, deliver privilege speeches, or defend their positions, not through inaction that leaves the chamber stagnant. They accused the majority of seeking loyalty over principle, wanting the minority to join the boycott and silence the Senate, which would allow the Senate President to maintain his position without facing a true test of numbers. Cayetano responded to the minority's challenge, emphasizing the Senate's role as a co-equal branch of government and urging the minority to allow the chamber to remain silent to question why it would choose silence over serving its purpose. Despite this, the minority called for the Senate to resume its duties, highlighting the senators' obligation to show up, adhere to the law, and serve the p ublic. Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson criticized the majority's actions as a dereliction of duty, not a stand for Senate independence. He remarked that the arrest of Estrada was a step towards justice and emphasized the need for the Senate to regain its integrity, dignity, reputation, and public trust, which it once held.