The Senate underwent a sudden leadership transition as Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected Senate President, while former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III assumed the role of Senate Minority Leader.
The election results revealed a strategic shift in alliances. Notably, Senator Loren Legarda, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, and Cayetano’s sister, Pia Cayetano, moved to support the new Senate President. Following tradition, the two main contenders, Sotto and Cayetano, cast votes for each other.
The majority bloc that secured Cayetano’s leadership included Senators Bato dela Rosa, Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Joel Villanueva, and Sotto.
Meanwhile, Sotto’s bid was supported by Senators Bam Aquino, Win Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Lito Lapid, Kiko Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, and Cayetano himself.
Following the vote, Senator Loren Legarda was elected Senate President Pro Tempore. Both Cayetano and Legarda took their oaths of office immediately after the proceedings.
Senators JV Ejercito and Juan Miguel Zubiri abstained from the vote. Despite the shift, Sotto returns to a familiar role, having been elected once again to lead the Senate Minority.