Gatchalian elected Senate president, ending leadership impasse

The Senate on Wednesday elected Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian as president, ending a leadership dispute that had threatened to delay action on legislative measures and preparations for the impeachment trial of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Mr. Gatchalian got 13 votes during a special session, replacing Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who conceded the contest before the vote after acknowledging that the opposing bloc had gathered enough support to take control of the chamber.

“After speaking with Senator Joel Villanueva, it appears our colleagues on the other side will soon have the numbers to elect a new Senate President,” Mr. Cayetano said in a statement posted on his Facebook page. “I will not stand in the way of that vote.”

Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri nominated Mr. Gatchalian for the Senate’s top post, citing his leadership of several key committees, including the finance committee.

“He has ably led some of our most demanding and time-consuming committees,” Mr. Zubiri said. “He led the finance committee with great resolve, spearheading unprecedented initiatives to ensure accountability and transparency in the national budget.”

After Mr. Gatchalian’s election, Senator Vicente C. Sotto III was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, while Mr. Zubiri became majority leader.

Mr. Cayetano earlier said he would voluntarily step aside if the opposing bloc secured the 13 votes required to replace him.

In his statement, he said he would support measures aimed at helping communities affected by the recent earthquake in Mindanao.

“I will be among the first to back the measures before us to help Mindanao rise from the earthquake — to fund the relief and the rebuilding of broken communities is exactly what a Senate is for, and it has my vote without hesitation,” he said.

Mr. Villanueva had expressed openness to attending the special session, fueling speculation that he would join the bloc backing Mr. Gatchalian.

Several senators aligned with Mr. Cayetano were absent from the special session, although the chamber proceeded with the leadership vote after the Gatchalian bloc secured the support needed to reorganize the Senate leadership.

The change in leadership comes as the Senate faces pressure to tackle priority legislation and preparations for the impeachment proceedings against Ms. Duterte. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel