Key facts
- The Philippine Senate elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as its new leader.
- The election followed a power struggle and the removal of Alan Peter Cayetano.
- The leadership change occurs weeks before Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.
- Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa's vote was instrumental in installing Cayetano previously.
- Both Sara Duterte and Rodrigo Duterte face ICC charges, which they deny.
The Philippine Senate has elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as its new leader, concluding a period of internal power struggle and formalizing the removal of Alan Peter Cayetano. This leadership change occurred during a special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and just weeks before the expected start of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.
The power struggle intensified when Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), reappeared to cast a decisive vote installing Cayetano, an ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, as Senate president. Cayetano and his allies were absent from Wednesday's session where Gatchalian secured the backing of all 13 senators present.
Both Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, face ICC charges. Rodrigo Duterte is detained in The Hague for crimes against humanity, while dela Rosa is wanted on similar charges related to the "war on drugs." Both deny the allegations.
The Senate, acting as an impeachment court, is set to begin hearing the case against Sara Duterte on July 6. She faces potential conviction for misusing public funds, accumulating unexplained wealth, and threatening lives, which could derail her presidential ambitions in 2028. Duterte denies wrongdoing and claims the impeachment effort is politically motivated.