MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A leadership standoff in the Philippine Senate came to an end on Wednesday with the election of Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president, leading to the removal of an ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte. This political shift occurs as the Senate prepares to begin the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte, the incumbent Vice President and daughter of the former president.
Gatchalian, who is an ally of current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., secured the Senate presidency with support from 13 of the 24 senators. His rival, Alan Peter Cayetano, a significant supporter of Rodrigo Duterte, conceded defeat following a tumultuous two-week period during which both claimed leadership based on differing interpretations of Senate quorum rules. The balance shifted when a senator allied with Cayetano defected, clearly empowering Gatchalian's bloc.
Jean Franco, a political professor at the University of the Philippines, expressed relief over the resolution but cautioned that the country's democracy, characterized by weak and fragile institutions, may face further challenges ahead. The recent infighting within the Senate is widely viewed as a reflection of the longstanding political tensions between Marcos and Vice President Duterte, who were once allies but have experienced a damaging falling out. This conflict illustrates the ongoing divisions and turbulence that define Philippine politics.
Vice President Sara Duterte has publicly blamed President Marcos for the arrest of her father, Rodrigo Duterte, who was transferred to the International Criminal Court in The Hague last year. There, he is scheduled to face trial beginning in November on charges of crimes against humanity linked to his aggressive anti-drug campaign while in office, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of mostly impoverished suspects. The former president has vehemently denied any responsibility for extra-judicial killings.
Prior to Gatchalian's election, Cayetano had briefly seized the Senate presidency on May 11, leveraging a slim majority when Senator Ronald dela Rosa unexpectedly returned to support him after months of absence. Dela Rosa, who previously served as Rodrigo Duterte's national police chief, has been identified by the ICC as a co-perpetrator in the widespread killings associated with the drug war. On the same day that the ICC unsealed a warrant for his arrest, he went back into hiding and remains unaccounted for.
Adding to the tumult, another ally of Cayetano, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, was arrested on June 1 after being indicted on a plunder charge. He is accused of accepting significant kickbacks from a flood control project, an allegation he denies. Control over the Senate becomes increasingly critical as it is expected to commence the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in July. The House of Representatives, which recently voted to impeach her on criminal charges, including allegations of unexplained wealth and threats against President Marcos, is heavily aligned with Marcos’ supporters. The Vice President has denied the charges and claims they are part of a scheme to obstruct her political ambitions, particularly her announced plan to run for the presidency when Marcos's term ends in 2028.
