Shervin Gatchalian Elected as New Senate President, Adding Uncertainty to Vice President Sara Duterte's Impeachment Case
The Philippine Senate held a special session on June 17, unanimously electing Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as the new Senate President by a vote of 13 in favor, while removing Alan Peter Cayetano, who had served only one month. With less than three weeks remaining before the anticipated start of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, this personnel change has stirred further turbulence in an already tense political landscape.
The special session was convened personally by President Ferdinand Marcos, aiming to ensure timely passage of urgent bills such as the Anti-Political Dynasty Act. All 13 senators present voted in support of Gatchalian—despite his party not being aligned with Marcos. The Senate has a total of 24 seats; Cayetano and his allies were collectively absent and did not participate in the voting.
This power struggle began last month. When Senator Ronald dela Rosa, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), unexpectedly reappeared after months of silence, he cast the decisive vote that propelled Cayetano—the former running mate of former President Rodrigo Duterte—to the presidency of the Senate. Just hours before the vote, the Senate was about to receive the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. Shortly after the vote, chaos erupted within the Senate chamber. Dela Rosa quietly left the building early on May 14 and has since disappeared without a trace.
Dela Rosa faces ICC charges of crimes against humanity for his role in the violent “war on drugs” during former President Duterte’s administration. Duterte himself is currently detained in The Hague, awaiting trial on the same charges. Both men deny all allegations.
According to the scheduled timeline, the Senate will formally open the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte as a court of impeachment on July 6. If found guilty, she would be barred from holding public office, effectively ending her prospects for the 2028 presidential bid. The impeachment complaint accuses her of misappropriating public funds, amassing unexplained wealth, and threatening the safety of President Marcos, the First Lady, and former House Speaker, among others. Sara has categorically denied all charges and accused the impeachment process of being politically motivated.
Source: sputniknews
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868215825022980/
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