Alan Peter Cayetano ‘no longer SP’ – Senate majority

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is no longer the Senate president, the new majority said on Wednesday after the shake-up.

In the absence of Cayetano and his allies in the chamber, 12 senators formed a quorum and, with no objections, approved to vacate all the Senate leadership positions less than four weeks after the last coup.

“Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is no longer Senate president after the Senate, with 12 senators present and a quorum declared based on the recognized base number of 22 under Avelino v. Cuenco, voted to declare all positions vacant, including the presidency of the institution,” the majority senators said.

The new majority consists of now-Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, Sens. Francis Escudero, Bam Aquino, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, Lito Lapid, Panfilo Lacson, and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

READ: Cayetano: I am still the legitimate, legal, moral Senate president

With the Senate presidency vacant, Gatchalian as Senate president pro tempore serves as the upper chamber’s acting leader.

Gatchalian was not elected Senate president because the 1987 Constitution requires a senator to secure 13 votes to be seated in the position.

“But this is what is clear and important now: all positions are vacant, the previous leadership is over, and the Senate must continue its work for the people,” the new majority said in Filipino.

Cayetano insisted that the change is “an illegal coup,” and he is “still the legitimate, legal, moral Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines.” /mcm