A leadership standoff in the Philippine Senate concluded on Wednesday with the removal of an ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte as the chamber's leader. This change occurs just as the Senate is set to begin the impeachment trial of his daughter, incumbent Vice President Sara Duterte.
New Senate President Elected
Sherwin Gatchalian, an ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was elected Senate president with the backing of 13 out of 24 senators. His rival, Alan Peter Cayetano, a key supporter of the Dutertes, conceded defeat. The two had each claimed leadership over the past two weeks, citing conflicting legal interpretations of the quorum that led to their respective elections. However, a Cayetano ally defected on Wednesday, giving Gatchalian's bloc a clear majority.
Jean Franco, a political professor at the University of the Philippines, called the outcome a relief but warned that the country's democracy, "with its weak and fragile institutions," faces further challenges.
Political Context
The Senate infighting is widely seen as influenced by the long-running political disputes between Marcos and Vice President Duterte. Once allies, the two have had a bitter falling out that reflects the divisions and turbulent politics of the Asian democracy. The vice president has blamed Marcos for the arrest of her father, Rodrigo Duterte, and his handover to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague last year. The former president is scheduled for trial in November on charges of crimes against humanity related to his brutal anti-drugs crackdown, which left thousands dead. He denies authorizing extra-judicial killings.
Previous Senate Maneuvers
Cayetano had captured the Senate presidency on May 11 after his faction achieved a slim majority when Senator Ronald dela Rosa suddenly reappeared to support him following months in hiding. Dela Rosa, who served as Rodrigo Duterte's national police chief, has been named by the ICC as a co-perpetrator in the killings. After an ICC warrant for his arrest was unsealed on May 11, he went back into hiding and remains at large. Another Cayetano ally, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, was arrested and jailed on June 1 on plunder charges for allegedly receiving kickbacks from a flood control project, which he denies.
Impeachment Trial Ahead
Control of the Senate is crucial as it is expected to start the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in July. She was impeached by the House of Representatives last month on charges including unexplained wealth and publicly threatening to have Marcos assassinated. The House is dominated by Marcos' allies. The vice president denies the allegations, which her supporters claim were fabricated to thwart her plan to run for president when Marcos' term ends in 2028.
