It happened as the special session ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. took place.
On Wednesday, June 17, the majority bloc of the Senate welcomed a new member with the move of Senate Joel Villanueva from the faction led by ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
With his formal move to the wing led by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, 13 senators were able to convene on that day and proceed with the special session directed by President Marcos to address pending acts and other works that were not tackled after the dramatic events at the Senate in the past month.
With the 12 prior members and Villanueva in the room, a quorum was formally established, with Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moving to officially nominate Gatchalian for the Senate presidency, which he has asusmed under an “acting” capacity since June 3.
The motion was approved without objection from the 13 senators present, composed of Senators Bam Aquino, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Lito Lapid, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Vicente Sotto III, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, and Joel Villanueva.
Zubiri subsequently moved for Gatchalian’s oath-taking, which was administered by Sotto, who most recently served as the Senate President from September 2025 to last May.
The newly installed Senate President was accompanied by his mother, Dee Hua Gatchalian, and niece, Lexi Gatchalian.
With Gatchalian’s ascension, Sotto was then nominated by Lacson and was once again approved by other Senators. His eldest daughter, Romina, was present during his oath-taking.
CAYETANO‘S STATEMENT
Meanwhile, prior to this, statement, former SP Alan Peter Cayetano thanked supporters and acknowledged his allies who stood by him.
He also said that the end of his one-month-long tenure in the Senate’s top post would not stop what he called “efforts to uncover the truth behind alleged irregularities in the country’s flood control program.”
“This was never about the Senate presidency. From the very beginning it was about the truth the truth about the flood-control funds, the billions meant to shield our towns and our families from the waters, the protection that was paid for and never came.” he claimed.
He also took a swipe at the new majority bloc and said that the fight began when one side wanted to bring out, while the other was “desperate to keep it covered.”
“And It is a fight that we intend to continue, no title or position required,” he said.
He also questioned the purpose of the special session called by President Marcos Jr. on June 17, which Malacañang said was intended to tackle urgent legislative measures.
He argued that the legislative calendar itself undercut that justification, noting that none of the President’s 21 priority measures appeared poised for passage.
“The President himself named twenty-one priority measures for passage by June, and when our leadership changed, his Palace promised the public there would be no slowdown. Yet not one of those twenty-one appears to be set for passage today,” he said.
He said instead, what will be sent into law instead is “a national orchid and two grants of citizenship.” The lone priority measure on the calendar, he added, is the Anti-Political Dynasty bill which currently sits only at interpellation
He also questioned whether the special session was meant to advance legislation or simply formalize a change in Senate leadership.
“Which leaves one honest question. If we are serious about working, then let us pass serious bills. And if we are not – if this Special Session is only the Palace’s way of legitimizing its chosen Senate President then the only thing special about it is that it proves our point despite all their denials,” he claimed.
He ended his message by saying, “Offices are temporary, titles are temporary, even majorities are temporary but your right to the truth is not. I promise you, we will get to the bottom of this. We will find the Masterminds. We will hold them accountable.”
Cayetano also reiterated his objections to the June 3 Senate session, saying constitutional questions surrounding it should be resolved by the Supreme Court.
“We have said from the first, and we maintain still, that what was done on June 3 was done without the quorum the Constitution requires, and was, for that reason, vold,” he said.
He also voiced his concerns about executive influence over the Senate. “The deeper concern was never the count alone. It was the hand that reached into this chamber from outside it. The independence of the Senate is not a courtesy the Executive may grant or withdraw at will; it is a wall the Constitution built on purpose,” he said.
Despite the leadership change, Cayetano said he would continue supporting urgent measures, including aid for earthquake-hit Mindanao.
“I may leave the position of SP, but I am honored to still be your PS your Public Servant,” he ended his lengthy statement.