MANILA, Philippines — The Senate elected Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as its new president on Wednesday, ending weeks of uncertainty over the chamber’s leadership while intensifying a legal challenge lodged by supporters of former Senate president Alan Peter Cayetano.
Gatchalian secured the position after Sen. Joel Villanueva joined the majority coalition, providing the votes necessary to formalize the leadership change.
Backing Gatchalian are Villanueva, Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, former Senate President Tito Sotto, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Chiz Escudero, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, and Lito Lapid.
His election makes him the fourth Senate president since the start of the 20th Congress, reflecting the continuing political realignments within the upper chamber.
The leadership contest traces its roots to June 3, when Cayetano was removed from office. On the same day, Gatchalian was elected Senate president pro tempore, but the proceedings immediately drew criticism because only 12 senators were present.
Opponents argued that the number was insufficient to constitute a valid quorum for the election of a Senate president. The controversy eventually reached the judiciary.
On Tuesday, Cayetano and his allies asked the Supreme Court to invalidate the election of the Gatchalian leadership, insisting that Senate rules and constitutional requirements were not properly observed.
The petition was supported by Senators Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, Robin Padilla, Bong Go, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ronald dela Rosa.
As the legal challenge moves forward, attention is expected to focus on whether the Supreme Court will intervene in what is traditionally considered an internal matter of the Senate.
ia/xf
