Gatchalian is new Senate president

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was elected Senate president during the chamber’s special session on Wednesday.

Gatchalian garnered enough votes for the leadership after Sen. Joel Villanueva joined the 12 current members of the majority bloc.

The new majority consists of Gatchalian, Villanueva, Majority Leader Sen. Migz Zubiri, Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Chiz Escudero, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, and Lito Lapid.

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Gatchalian is the fourth Senate president of the 20th Congress, succeeding Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who was removed from his presidency on June 3.

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That same day, Gatchalian was only elected Senate president pro tempore as 13 votes are needed to elect a Senate president.

Only 12 senators were present to sit Gatchalian.

On Tuesday, Cayetano and most of his allies petitioned the Supreme Court to declare null and void the election of the Gatchalian leadership, citing the illegitimacy of a 12-person quorum.

Cayetano’s allies include his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sens. Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, Robin Padilla, Christopher “Bong” Go, the detained Jinggoy Estrada, and the missing Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. /gsg

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