SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian was formally elected and sworn in as the new Senate President on Tuesday, June 17, marking the official conclusion of weeks of tense leadership deadlock within the upper chamber.
His ascent to the top post came during a special session, where his faction secured a 13‑member quorum following the arrival of Senator Joel Villanueva — a key addition that brought their numbers beyond the 12 lawmakers who had previously backed the reorganization bid. All senators present during the session belonged to the bloc recognizing Gatchalian’s leadership, while members aligned with outgoing leader Senator Alan Peter Cayetano were notably absent from the proceedings.
Shortly after the roll call confirmed the presence of 13 lawmakers, Senator Miguel Zubiri moved to nominate Gatchalian for the Senate presidency.
With no objections raised from the floor, the nomination was carried unanimously, paving the way for his formal election and oath‑taking. This development formally solidifies the takeover of the Gatchalian‑led majority, which had been working to reorganize the chamber since earlier this month. The shift in power was made possible after Senator Chiz Escudero, formerly identified with the Cayetano group, joined their ranks, completing the numbers needed to form a quorum even before Villanueva’s decision to attend the session.
Nine senators were recorded as absent during the historic vote: Alan Peter Cayetano, his sister Senator Pia Cayetano, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Loren Legarda, and siblings Camille Villar and Mark Villar — all former allies of Villanueva who chose not to participate in the proceedings.
In a statement released earlier on Wednesday, Cayetano officially conceded his claim to the Senate presidency, acknowledging that his faction no longer commanded the numbers required to maintain control or challenge the new leadership. His admission brings to a close a prolonged standoff that had paralyzed Senate operations, clearing the way for Gatchalian to steer the chamber’s legislative agenda moving forward.
