Senator Win Gatchalian takes his oath as the new Senate President Pro Tempore and assumes the role of Acting Senate President during the Senate session on June 3, 2026
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Win Gatchalian was elected yesterday as the new Senate President Pro Tempore, who will also serve as Acting Senate President.
The change in Senate leadership occurred after a quorum was achieved due to Senator Chiz Escudero’s move to the Solid Bloc 11, which emerged yesterday in the Senate, making the former minority 12 while the group of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano became only 11. They still need one more senator to reach 13 and for Gatchalian to become a legitimate Senate President.
The session proceeded amid the third day of boycott by Cayetano’s group.
At 3:13 PM, Escudero arrived at the session hall, greeted with applause from the gallery and welcomed with hugs by several senators in the plenary hall.
Former Senate Minority Leader Tito Sotto filed the motion to declare all positions vacant.
In a statement released by the new majority, now called the “Solid Bloc 12,” it was clarified that Cayetano is no longer Senate President. The new majority cited the Avelino v. Cuenco case from 1949 as basis.
“For clarity, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is no longer Senate President after the Senate, with 12 senators present and a quorum declared based on the recognized base number of 22 under Avelino v. Cuenco, voted to declare all positions vacant, including the presidency of the institution,” said Solid Bloc 12.
“Sen. Win Gatchalian has not yet been elected as the new Senate President because 13 votes are still needed under the Constitution. But this is clear and important now: all positions are vacant, the previous leadership is over, and the Senate’s work for the people must continue,” said Solid Bloc 12.
New chairpersons for various committees were also elected, with Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as chairman of the Committee on Rules, while Senator Erwin Tulfo will chair the Blue Ribbon Committee and also serve as chairman of the Social Welfare Committee.
Senator JV Ejercito will handle Finance, Sotto for National Defense, Senator Panfilo Lacson for Public Order and Accounts, Senator Raffy Tulfo for Public Services, Senator Bam Aquino for Basic Education, Senator Risa Hontiveros for the Health Committee, and Senator Kiko Pangilinan for Agriculture.
Escudero will handle Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, while Zubiri was given Foreign Relations.
Attorney Renato Bantug was elected as the new Senate Secretary, while retired Police Major General Alfred Sotto Corpus was elected as the new Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.
With the session held, the adjournment sine die was formally declared, and the session will resume on July 27, 2026.
