LESS than two weeks after Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano took over as Senate president, minority lawmakers are discussing yet another leadership shakeup, Sen. Panfilo Lacson confirmed.
Speaking during an interview on Storycon aired on One News, Lacson confirmed that the 11-member minority bloc has been discussing plans to reorganize the Senate leadership amid what he described as growing concerns over the institution’s credibility and direction.
“This much I can say: a change in leadership under the present situation is in the works,” Lacson said.
Lacson revealed that Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has emerged as a “compromise candidate” for Senate president, acceptable to both members of the majority and minority blocs.
Lacson said the position of former Senate president Vicente Sotto III has become “somewhat untenable,” adding that Sotto himself had recognized the political realities surrounding the issue.
“The compromise reached was for our preferred candidate for Senate president to be Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian,” Lacson said.
The minority bloc, however, still lacks the necessary votes to formally challenge the current leadership.
Even with support from some senators in the majority coalition, the bloc reportedly needs at least two more votes to initiate proceedings to vacate key Senate posts.
Lacson disclosed that several senators from the current majority had expressed interest in joining the minority, but negotiations failed after they backed a different candidate for Senate president.
While he declined to identify the senator, political reports said their preferred choice was Sen. Francis Escudero, who was ousted as Senate president by Sotto.
“As far as the 11 members of the minority bloc are concerned, whenever we discuss this, we are unanimous on the matter. Our primordial concern is the integrity, dignity, and reputation of the Senate,” Lacson said.
Shifting alliances
Lacson cited recent Senate history to underscore how quickly political alignments can shift within the chamber.
On Sept. 8, 2025, several senators joined the then five-member minority bloc to elect Sotto as Senate president, replacing Escudero, who had come under fire for delaying the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Months later, on May 11, four senators from Sotto’s 15-member faction crossed over to the minority coalition to install Cayetano as Senate president.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa — despite facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court — emerged from months in hiding to cast the decisive vote for Cayetano.
Lacson, who relinquished his position as Senate president pro tempore and chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee following the leadership transition, said efforts to explore another reorganization are part of normal Senate politics.
“There’s always a possibility,” Lacson said. “In 2025, there were only five of us, yet Tito Sotto became Senate president. Earlier this month, there were only nine of them, while we were 15, but we were replaced. So, everything is possible.”
In several interviews following the leadership change, Lacson suggested that some senators believed Sotto had failed to adequately “take care” of members of the majority bloc — a phrase widely interpreted in political circles as referring to political accommodation, committee concerns, and allocation-related expectations.
Gatchalian: I’m ready
In a separate interview with radio dzMM, Gatchalian acknowledged the circulating rumors about his possible ascent to the Senate presidency but declined to elaborate on ongoing discussions.
“From my perspective, I have learned a lot from the Senate, especially from handling complicated committees. So, when the time comes, I’m really ready,” Gatchalian said in Filipino.
Now in his 10th year as senator, Gatchalian has chaired several influential committees, including economic affairs, energy, basic education, ways and means, and finance.
Before joining the Senate, Gatchalian served as mayor and district representative of Valenzuela City. He has built a reputation as a meticulous and data-driven legislator, often using charts, presentations and detailed reports during high-profile investigations.
He played a prominent role in Senate inquiries into illegal gaming syndicates and the controversial citizenship case involving convicted human trafficker Alice Guo.
As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Gatchalian also pushed for greater transparency in budget deliberations. Under his leadership, bicameral conference meetings on the national budget were opened to the public, while an online transparency portal was established to provide access to hearing transcripts and budget documents.
Pangilinan backs Gatchalian
Sen. Francis Pangilinan also voiced support for Gatchalian’s potential bid for the Senate presidency.
In a statement, Pangilinan said members of the “Solid Bloc 11” unanimously support Gatchalian because of his performance during deliberations on the proposed 2026 National Budget.
“He has proven that he can protect the people’s money and ensure that public funds go where they are most needed,” Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan described Gatchalian as “competent, steady, and fair,” adding that he could unite a broader reform-oriented coalition within the Senate.
Restoring credibility
Gatchalian on Saturday said restoring public trust in the Senate would require unity among lawmakers amid growing speculation that he could become the chamber’s next Senate president.
Gatchalian thanked members of the “SB-11” bloc and other senators backing his possible leadership, saying many lawmakers share the goal of rebuilding the institution’s credibility following recent controversies involving the Senate.
“I would like to thank the minority bloc and those who have expressed trust and confidence in us,” Gatchalian said. “Many people were disappointed by what happened, especially since the Senate is one of the country’s highest institutions.”
The senator acknowledged that recent incidents, including a shooting controversy and public disputes involving senators, have damaged the Senate’s image and sparked criticism online.
“It is indeed a big challenge,” he said. “But this cannot be done by one leader alone. Every senator must work together to restore the good image of our institution.”
Gatchalian stressed the need for an impartial investigation into the shooting incident, saying accountability is necessary to regain public confidence.
“The investigation must be impartial and independent,” he said, noting that the Senate and the National Bureau of Investigation are involved in the probe. “If anyone is guilty, they must be held accountable.”
He also called for stronger communication and coordination among government officials to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“These are government officials. They should not be shooting at each other,” Gatchalian said. “Even small misunderstandings can escalate if there are no clear lines of communication.”
The senator also underscored the importance of stability in Senate leadership, warning that frequent leadership changes disrupt committee work and delay important legislation.
As political maneuvering continues inside the chamber, observers say the coming weeks may determine whether the current 13-member majority coalition led by Cayetano can withstand another leadership challenge from the increasingly assertive minority bloc.
