Senator Pia Cayetano asserted that she sees no problem with the change in Senate leadership following the election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as the new Senate President after the new majority secured 13 votes. In an ambush interview on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, just hours before the leadership change was finalized, Cayetano emphasized that what matters is adherence to existing laws and constitutional rules.
“Thirteen, right? Common sense, right? What’s in the rules? What’s in the Constitution? When you have thirteen, that’s it,” the senator stated. She added that there would be no problem if the proper process is followed in selecting the leadership. “So if they don’t follow the rules, that’s where we have a problem. But if they follow the Constitution and the rules, there’s no problem,” she said.
Cayetano made the statement following the confirmation of the formation of a new majority after Senator Joel Villanueva shifted his support, providing the necessary 13th vote to elect Gatchalian as Senate President. Earlier, former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano resigned from his post via a Facebook post after apparently recognizing that the other side had sufficient numbers. In his statement, Alan Cayetano said he would not stand in the way of the majority’s decision. “After speaking with Sen. Joel Villanueva, it appears our colleagues on the other side will soon have the numbers to elect a new Senate President. I will not stand in the way of that vote,” he said.
He added that leadership in a democratic institution is not permanent and is always based on the trust of colleagues. “No leadership in a democracy is ever permanent; every office we hold is a loan, never a possession,” he said. It can be recalled that Alan Peter Cayetano assumed the position of Senate President on May 11 following a change in majority that ousted the previous leadership of Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
