Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was formally elected as the new Senate President on Wednesday, June 17, after Senator Joel Villanueva cast the decisive 13th vote needed to establish a new majority bloc, formally replacing Senator Alan Peter Cayetano during a special Senate session.
In his acceptance speech, Gatchalian described his election as both an honor and a responsibility, pledging to focus on legislation addressing the country’s most urgent concerns.
He also called for unity among lawmakers, urging senators from both the majority and minority blocs to work together in addressing national challenges.
Malacañang welcomed Gatchalian’s election and urged Congress to expedite the passage of priority measures aligned with the legislative agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
House Speaker Faustino Dy III likewise congratulated Gatchalian, expressing confidence that Congress would continue advancing legislation aimed at boosting economic growth, improving public services, and enhancing the welfare of Filipinos.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court did not act on a petition filed by Cayetano and his allies seeking to invalidate Gatchalian’s June 3 election as Senate President Pro Tempore.
“There was no action on the petition,” Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting said.
As part of the Senate reorganization, former Senate President Vicente Sotto III was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, while Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri assumed the position of Senate Majority Leader.
The leadership change ended Cayetano’s 37-day tenure as Senate President, making him the second shortest-serving Senate chief in the institution’s history. Cayetano had assumed the position after his bloc unseated Sotto on May 11.
In a statement, Cayetano acknowledged the shift in support following discussions with Villanueva.
Several senators allied with Cayetano later attended Senate proceedings and Commission on Appointments hearings following the reorganization.
