Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected as the new Senate president on Monday, taking over former Senate President Vicente Sotto III in a dramatic leadership change backed by a majority of lawmakers in the chamber.
The leadership turnover came after senators voted 13-9 in favor of Cayetano over Sotto, with two abstentions, to declare all Senate leadership positions vacant, a move that paved the way for the election of a new Senate chief.
Following the vote, Senator Imee Marcos formally nominated Cayetano for the top Senate post.
The identities of the senators who voted in favor of the leadership change were not immediately disclosed.
Before the vote took place, Cayetano addressed the plenary and informed then Senate President Sotto that enough senators had already expressed support for replacing the chamber’s leadership.
“So, may I manifest that there are now at least 13 members of the Senate who wish to have a leadership change,” Cayetano said during the session.
Cayetano also revealed that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa had arrived at the Senate building to participate in the vote, apparently in support of the leadership transition.
The shakeup marked one of the most significant changes in the Senate leadership in recent years, with Cayetano taking over the chamber amid intensifying political realignments and major national issues facing Congress.
Sotto, a veteran legislator who previously held the Senate presidency for several terms, did not immediately issue a statement following the leadership vote.