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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Will Sherwin Gatchalian become Senate president? 'Depends', minority senators say

Will Sherwin Gatchalian become Senate president? 'Depends', minority senators say

Published May 24, 2026 04:21 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III rejected insinuations he has been silent about any Senate leadership change, saying that it was his idea to elect Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as the new Senate chief.
  • Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson clarified that the Senate's 11-member minority bloc's bid for a leadership change is centered on providing the Upper Chamber a "fresh start, and nothing else."
Will the quest to make Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as the next Senate president push through?
For Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who was ousted as Senate leader by newly-elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano last May 11, everything depends on the numbers.
Nevertheless, Sotto rejected insinuations he has been silent about any Senate leadership change. In fact, he said, it was his idea to elect Gatchalian as the new Senate chief.
“I was asked why I have been silent re (about the) Senate leadership … wrong! I was the one who brought out the idea of making Sherwin as SP (Senate president)!” Sotto pointed out to in a Viber message to reporters.
But asked if this bid by the so-called “Solid Bloc 11” will finally materialize on Monday, May 25, Sotto merely said “it depends.”
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, meanwhile, clarified that the Senate’s 11-member minority bloc’s bid for a leadership change is centered on providing the Upper Chamber a “fresh start, and nothing else.”
This, after the Senate's reputation and integrity was marred following Cayetano's takeover, dramatically marked by Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa's sudden return,  the shooting incident inside the building and Dela Rosa's release from the Senate's "protective custody."
Lacson dismissed speculations that the minority's move is linked to efforts to amend the Constitution or influence the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Our primary or main concern is to restore the Senate's integrity. We never discussed anything else - not Con-ass (constituent assembly), not the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte),” Lacson said in an interview on Radio DZBB.
“We in the minority bloc agreed that our reason for seeking a leadership change is to give the Senate a fresh start. That is why we rally behind Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, he is a fresh face and has no 'enemies' among senators,” he added.
But asked if this is happening soon, Lacson said each member of the minority bloc has his or her own task to get additional support from senators.
But the only “non-negotiable” fact is that the bloc would support Gatchalian as Senate President.
Nevertheless, Lacson said he and Sotto are ready to serve as guides for the next generation of senators by sharing lessons from their decades of public service.
“When the minority bloc holds a caucus, I refer to Sotto and myself as the Council of Elders. We don't aspire to attain positions in the Senate but we are willing to share our personal and professional experiences, drawing from our long years here,” Lacson also said in an interview on Radio DWIZ.
"I believe we can contribute. This is a transition period leading to the next generation of senators. So what we can contribute to guide the new generation that will lead the Senate and the country, we are willing to help," he added.
On Saturday, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan disclosed that the 11-member minority bloc are rallying behind Gatchalian to be the next Senate president, especially if they get the much-needed numbers.
Pangilinan said the minority bloc sees Gatchalian as “competent, steady, and fair,” and one who “can unite a broader, reform-oriented Senate that is more balanced, more accountable, and acceptable even to some members of the current majority.”
With Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa out, Lacson said they believe they can sway the Senate's policy decision through a simple majority of 12 out of 23 senators.

Related Tags

Ping Lacson Tito Sotto III Senate leadership change Senate Kiko Pangilinan Sherwin Gatchalian Solid Bloc 11
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