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Gatchalian becomes Senate president as Villanueva joins bloc
Philstar.com • • general
Key Points:
- Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was elected and sworn in as Senate president on June 17 after his bloc secured a 13-member quorum, marking a formal takeover following weeks of leadership deadlock with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano's absent bloc.
- Sen. Miguel Zubiri nominated Gatchalian, and no objections were raised during the special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address priority measures, with all senators present supporting Gatchalian's leadership.
- Key members of Cayetano's bloc, including Cayetano himself, Pia Cayetano, and others, were absent, with Cayetano conceding his claim to the Senate presidency amid dwindling support and prior removal from leadership.
- New Senate officers were sworn in, including Sen. Tito Sotto as Senate president pro tempore and Sen. Miguel Zubiri as chair of the Senate rules committee; Sen. Erwin Tulfo was reconfirmed as chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee tasked with investigating public fund embezzlement.
- The special session aimed to resolve the Senate leadership impasse and address pending legislative business, with the House of Representatives also convening simultaneously for a special session.
