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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., members of the first family and other government officials witness the Armed Forces of the Philippines' military assets during the 128th Independence Day celebration at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on June 12, 2026.
The Philippine STAR / Noel Pabalate
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. publicly recognized Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian as the leader of the Senate, in what appeared to be Malacañang's clearest acknowledgment yet of the chamber's new leadership.
Speaking before guests at the Independence Day rites on Friday, June 12, Marcos recognized Gatchalian while acknowledging government officials in attendance.
“House Speaker Faustino Dy and the honorable members of the House of Representatives; Senate President Pro Tem Sherwin Gatchalian,” Marcos said before proceeding with his address.
Gatchalian was among the officials present at the ceremony, which included a flag-raising and wreath-laying at the Rizal Monument. He and Marcos also exchanged a handshake during the event.
The acknowledgment marks the first time Marcos has publicly recognized Gatchalian's leadership role since the Senate leadership shake-up earlier this month.
The dispute stemmed from a June 3 Senate session attended by 12 senators — composed of the then-minority bloc and Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero — who declared a quorum based on the Supreme Court's 1949 ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco.
The senators then declared all elected Senate positions vacant, including the Senate presidency. Gatchalian was elected Senate president pro tempore and was subsequently recognized by those present as acting Senate president.
The Palace quickly recognized the new Senate majority and Gatchalian's leadership.
In an interview on June 7, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Executive branch recognizes only Gatchalian as the Senate's leader.
“Wala kikilalanin ang Palasyo, walang kikilalanin ang Ehekutibo kundi ang liderato lamang po ni Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian,” Castro said.
(The Palace will recognize no one, and the Executive will recognize no one except the leadership of Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.)
She added that any coordination with the Executive, including requests for a special session, should be coursed through the Gatchalian-led bloc.
Earlier this week, Castro also dismissed concerns about a constitutional crisis stemming from the leadership dispute.
“In the eyes of Malacañang, in the eyes of the Executive, we have nothing that can be called a constitutional crisis,” she said.
“It is clear that the leadership we support and recognize is the leadership of Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian,” Castro added.
Despite this, Cayetano has continued to assert that he is the chamber's “legitimate, legal, moral Senate president.”
