Philippine Senate changes leadership ahead of crucial vice president impeachment trial

With 13 senators in attendance during a one-day special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr this week, a new leader in the upper house was elected ahead of the crucial impeachment trial.

Newly-elected Senate President Sherin Gatchalian addresses the media ahead of vice president Sara Duterte’s impeachment pre-trial on Thursday, June 18. Photo by Wendell D. Alinea / Senate Social Media Unit.

Manuel Mogato | June 18, 2026

MANILA — With 13 senators in attendance during a one-day special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr this week, a new leader in the upper house was elected ahead of the crucial impeachment trial next month.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, a two-term lawmaker, was unanimously elected as Senate president and replaced Alan Peter Cayetano, an ally of Vice President Sara Duterte, who skipped the special session. (Also read: Philippine Senate standoff ends with new majority bloc)

Cayetano served as Senate President for more than a month after he grabbed the leadership from veteran lawmaker Vicente Sotto III on May 11 when a fugitive senator suddenly showed up at the plenary session after a fugitive senator came out from hiding.

Sotto was elected Senate President Pro-Tempore, the second-highest position in the chamber, and Miguel Zubiri was the majority leader. Cayetano returned as minority leader of nine pro-Duterte senators.

Cayetano was ousted after two of his allies - Francis Escudero and Joel Villanueva - switched sides, ending the impasse that started on June 3 when Senator Jose Estrada was arrested on corruption allegations and Ronald dela Rose went into hiding again.

The balance of power was even at 11-11, but it was broken by Escudero and Villanueva moving to Gatchalian’s side on June 17.

Cayetano conceded, rendering his Supreme Court petition moot.

The leadership change came two weeks before the Senate starts the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Political analysts said the timing was perfect as a pro-Duterte Senate leadership could dictate the trial’s tempo and direction.

However, 16 votes are still needed to convict Duterte and remove her from her position. The new Senate majority of 13 members would need three more votes.

Congressmen, serving as impeachment prosecutors, are unfazed and confident the vice president will be convicted by the required 16 votes based on the evidence to be presented and public pressure.