“Aircon and Wi-Fi Cut Off?” Raffy Tulfo Slams Senate Majority After Session No-Show

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Raffy Tulfo criticized the Senate majority bloc after claiming that the air conditioning and Wi-Fi inside the Senate plenary hall were shut down while minority senators waited for a scheduled session on Monday, June 1.

According to Tulfo, all 11 members of the Senate minority bloc were present and waiting for the session to begin. However, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and members of the majority bloc failed to appear.

While waiting for more than two hours, Tulfo alleged that the plenary hall’s air conditioning and internet connection were suddenly turned off.

“We’ll just continue working; maybe they don’t want to work. That’s up to them. So he hostaged us. Then they turned off the air conditioner, and they turned off the Wi-Fi,” Tulfo told reporters.

When asked who was responsible for the alleged shutdown, Tulfo said he believed it was connected to the majority bloc, although he acknowledged that no official confirmation had been made.

The incident drew comparisons to a political standoff in the House of Representatives in 2020, when disputes over leadership reportedly led to the session hall being locked and utilities, including electricity and internet services, being cut off.

The controversy comes amid growing tensions within the Senate, where the majority and minority blocs are now evenly divided with 11 senators each. The political balance has fueled speculation about possible leadership changes in the chamber.

Meanwhile, no official statement has been released by Cayetano or the Senate majority bloc regarding Tulfo’s allegations.

As questions continue to mount, the incident has become the latest flashpoint in an increasingly tense political environment within the Senate.