With a quorum of 12 senators, the Senate finally held a session on Wednesday, electing Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian as its leader in the absence of Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who led a two-day boycott that left the chamber "on the brink of a constitutional violation." The election, reported by BusinessWorld , marks an end to the impasse that had stalled legislative proceedings.
Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito nominated Gatchalian, who was then elected by a show of hands. Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy, will serve as acting Senate president until Cayetano returns or a permanent successor is chosen. The session proceeded after a quorum was established, averting further delays to priority measures.
The boycott, led by Cayetano and his allies, had raised concerns about a possible violation of the Constitution, which requires the Senate to convene daily unless otherwise ordered. The election of Gatchalian restores normal operations, though the underlying political tensions remain unresolved.