Sherwin Gatchalian is the new Senate President, Tito Sotto the new Senate President Pro Tempore

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was elected Senate President on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) after 13 senators convened and voted in his favor.

The Senate also elected Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III as Senate President Pro Tempore and re-elected Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as Senate Majority Leader.

The 13 senators present during the session were senators: 

Bam Aquino;

Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito;

Francis “Chiz” Escudero;

 Risa Hontiveros;

Panfilo “Ping” Lacson;

 Lito Lapid;

Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan;

Erwin Tulfo; 

Raffy Tulfo;

Joel Villanueva, and

Gatchalian, Sotto, and Zubiri.

Villanueva was previously part of the "Cayetano bloc" of senators led by former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

After a quorum of 13 senators was established with the presence of Villanueva, Zubiri moved to nominate Gatchalian for the Senate presidency.

The motion was approved without objection.

Zubiri then moved for the oath-taking of Senator Gatchalian, which was administered by former Senate President Sotto. 

The newly installed Senate President was accompanied during the ceremony by his mother, Dee Hua Gatchalian, and his niece, Lexi Gatchalian.

The new Senate President committed to prioritizing legislative action on several pressing economic concerns. These include the rising prices of fuel and commodities, the aftermath of the Mindanao earthquake, and the ongoing threat of Super El Niño.

Senator Gatchalian has called on all members of the Senate— from both Gatchalian bloc, now the majority, and the Cayetano bloc, now the minority — to set aside political differences. 

He emphasized the importance of working together to address the various challenges currently facing the country.

“Naririnig namin kayo. Sa gitna ng mataas na presyo ng langis at bilihin, epekto ng lindol sa Mindanao, banta ng Super El Niño, at iba pang mahahalagang usapin, iisa ang inaasahan ng taumbayan: malasakit, aksyon, at resulta,” he said.

Gatchalian also underscored the Senate’s responsibility to deliver concrete results and affirmed that the chamber remains attuned to the public’s call for responsive governance.

“Batid ng buong Senado ang panawagan ng mamamayan: magtrabaho ang Lehislatura, tugunan ang mga suliraning kinakaharap ng ating bansa, at unahin ang tunay at agarang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he stated.

Gatchalian also said he accepts the position of Senate President with humility,  saying the Senate presidency was not about individual authority but about institutional stewardship and public accountability.

“Ang pagkakataong maglingkod bilang Senate President ay hindi pangkaraniwang karangalan. Ito ay araw-araw na panawagan na maging huwaran sa paglilingkod,” he said. “Higit sa lahat, ang tungkuling ito ay pananagutan — sa Senado, sa ating Saligang Batas, at sa sambayanang Pilipino.”

“Ang nais natin ay isang Senado para sa tao. Isang Senado na bukas sa pakikipag-usap. Isang Senado na nakatuon sa solusyon,” Gatchalian said.

CAYETANO: GRATEFUL HEART, UNFINISHED FIGHT

Meanwhile, Cayetano, after his departure from his leadership of the Senate, released a statement via social media, titled “A Grateful Heart, An Unfinished Fight.”

In the statement, Cayetano expressed his gratitude to his supporters and acknowledged the allies who have stood by him. 

He also reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing accountability regarding the billions of pesos allocated for flood mitigation projects.

“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. That is the fight that began all of this — one side wanted to bring it out, the other desperate to keep it covered. And it is a fight that we intend to continue, no title or position required,” Cayetano said.

 -Paraluman News