The Executive Branch on Wednesday officially acknowledged Senate President Pro Tempore Win Gatchalian as the upper chamber’s new leader, characterizing the sudden reorganization as a lawful transition.
“Ang nangyari sa Senado ngayong hapon ay naaayon sa batas at rule of law,” stated Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.
“Kinikilala at nirerespeto ng Palasyo ang desisyon ng bagong mayorya at ang liderato ni Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian,” she further remarked.
The executive endorsement followed a Senate session where the former 11-member minority coalition, spearheaded by Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, voted Gatchalian into the acting leadership role. The assembly successfully convened after Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero aligned with the minority group, providing the critical vote needed to secure a quorum.
Members of the ousted majority bloc were entirely absent from the proceedings.
Following his election, Gatchalian was sworn into office by Sotto. Concurrently, Senator Migz Zubiri was chosen as the new Senate Majority Leader and head of the Committee on Rules.
This legislative overhaul caps off days of intense political friction within the Senate, sparked by the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada and compounding dissatisfaction with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s management of the situation.
Critics and various organizations had previously demanded Cayetano step down, contending that his frequent suspension of sessions paralyzed lawmaking and stalled critical bills.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had also expressed disapproval of the halted legislative sessions, emphasizing that pressing national concerns—such as stabilizing the domestic impact of volatile global oil prices—require immediate legislative intervention.