Bloomberg
The Philippine Senate yesterday elected a new leader after weeks of a power struggle that has deepened political uncertainty ahead of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial next month. Lawmakers elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as president of the upper chamber, replacing Alan Peter Cayetano, who took over the post last month with the backing of legislators supportive of Duterte, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s ally-turned-top critic. Gatchalian was elected unanimously by 13 senators present in the one-day special session called upon by Marcos. Nine senators aligned with Duterte were absent at the chamber yesterday.
Newly elected Philippine Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian presides over a special plenary session in Pasay, Metro Manila, yesterday.
Senator Joel Villanueva, who was previously with the bloc allied with Duterte, jumped ship to complete the 13 votes needed to change the leadership. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who nominated Gatchalian, said “he’s the leader the Senate needs in this time of division and disarray. I know he will be able to rise above the fray and lead us back to our principal function which is to attend the work of legislation.”
