NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Senate Denies Internet Shutdown, Confirms Aircon Glitch During Session
FILE
The Senate has denied claims that internet access was deliberately cut off during a plenary session on June 1, saying technical records show that its network remained fully operational throughout the proceedings.
The clarification came after Senator Raffy Tulfo raised concerns that members of the minority bloc were left without internet access and air-conditioning while waiting inside the Session Hall. The allegation quickly gained attention and sparked discussions about possible tensions within the chamber.
However, an internal memorandum from the Senate’s Management Information Systems (MIS) Service stated that there was no disruption of internet services at any point during the session. According to the report, wireless internet traffic was actually at its highest level between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., indicating that users remained actively connected to the Senate’s Wi-Fi network.
The MIS Service also noted that its cloud-based monitoring system would have automatically generated alerts if internet connectivity had been interrupted. No such alerts were recorded during the period in question.
While the Senate disputed claims of an internet outage, officials acknowledged that a temporary air-conditioning problem did occur.
A separate report from the Senate’s Maintenance and Physical Facilities Service revealed that personnel responded after receiving reports of rising temperatures inside the Session Hall at around 6 p.m. on June 1.
An inspection found that an electrical circuit breaker connected to the centralized air-conditioning system had tripped at approximately 5:30 p.m. The issue affected several Air Handling Units (AHUs), disrupting cooling in parts of the Senate complex, including the Session Hall.
The report said similar power issues were experienced by other AHUs serving the Ground Floor and Third Floor. Air-conditioning service was eventually restored at around 6:20 p.m., about 50 minutes after the interruption began.
Senate officials said they are still awaiting a formal incident report from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), where the affected electrical equipment is located.
The release of the internal memoranda appears to address concerns raised by Tulfo and provides the Senate’s official explanation of what transpired during the session. Based on the findings, there was a confirmed disruption in air-conditioning services, but no evidence of an internet outage.
The incident comes as senators prepare for the opening of the 20th Congress and the selection of Senate leadership, a period that has already been marked by intense political maneuvering and heightened public attention.
For now, Senate records indicate that while lawmakers may have experienced an uncomfortable period without air-conditioning, internet connectivity remained uninterrupted during the June 1 proceedings.
The clarification came after Senator Raffy Tulfo raised concerns that members of the minority bloc were left without internet access and air-conditioning while waiting inside the Session Hall. The allegation quickly gained attention and sparked discussions about possible tensions within the chamber.
However, an internal memorandum from the Senate’s Management Information Systems (MIS) Service stated that there was no disruption of internet services at any point during the session. According to the report, wireless internet traffic was actually at its highest level between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., indicating that users remained actively connected to the Senate’s Wi-Fi network.
The MIS Service also noted that its cloud-based monitoring system would have automatically generated alerts if internet connectivity had been interrupted. No such alerts were recorded during the period in question.
While the Senate disputed claims of an internet outage, officials acknowledged that a temporary air-conditioning problem did occur.
A separate report from the Senate’s Maintenance and Physical Facilities Service revealed that personnel responded after receiving reports of rising temperatures inside the Session Hall at around 6 p.m. on June 1.
An inspection found that an electrical circuit breaker connected to the centralized air-conditioning system had tripped at approximately 5:30 p.m. The issue affected several Air Handling Units (AHUs), disrupting cooling in parts of the Senate complex, including the Session Hall.
The report said similar power issues were experienced by other AHUs serving the Ground Floor and Third Floor. Air-conditioning service was eventually restored at around 6:20 p.m., about 50 minutes after the interruption began.
Senate officials said they are still awaiting a formal incident report from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), where the affected electrical equipment is located.
The release of the internal memoranda appears to address concerns raised by Tulfo and provides the Senate’s official explanation of what transpired during the session. Based on the findings, there was a confirmed disruption in air-conditioning services, but no evidence of an internet outage.
The incident comes as senators prepare for the opening of the 20th Congress and the selection of Senate leadership, a period that has already been marked by intense political maneuvering and heightened public attention.
For now, Senate records indicate that while lawmakers may have experienced an uncomfortable period without air-conditioning, internet connectivity remained uninterrupted during the June 1 proceedings.
Jun 2, 2026
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