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Delon Porcalla - The Philippine Star
June 8, 2026 | 12:00am
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 replacing Senator Loren Legarda.
Ryan Baldemor / The Philippine STAR
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has recognized the leadership of Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian and not Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who refuses to step down as Senate chief.
“On behalf of the House, we extend our warmest congratulations to the Acting Senate President, Sherwin Gatchalian, on your assumption of this important responsibility,” Speaker Faustino Dy III declared in an official statement.
“We are confident that under your stewardship, the Senate will continue to discharge its constitutional duties with integrity, independence and dedication to the public interest,” he stated further.
Over the weekend, House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V also expressed hopes that the internal bickering among majority and minority senators will finally be resolved without affecting the stalled impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate Impeachment Court.
“We’re hoping that there will finally be a peaceful resolution to this, hopefully at the soonest time possible they will be able to thresh out the issues among themselves. Because we here in the House, we already did what has to be done. We finished our obligations,” he said.
Ortega also pointed out that several law schools, legal institutions and other co-equal branches of the government have likewise acknowledged the new Senate leadership of Gatchalian, including Malacañang and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
Asked whether the continuing standoff between the Gatchalian and Cayetano blocs could affect the impeachment proceedings, Ortega acknowledged that it could potentially cause delays, but stressed that lawmakers remain focused on the tentative trial schedule which was set on July 6.
The House of Representatives is open to holding a special session with the Senate if and when President Marcos wants more priority bills to be passed that have been derailed by continuous squabbling among senators.
“We will not block any move to hold any special session that will be called by the President, precisely because our Congress is bicameral, composed of the Senate and the House. And of course, we’re a part of Congress, so there will also be a need for us to convene,” Rep. Terry Ridon said.
