Alan Peter Cayetano Steps Down, Becomes Senate Minority Leader

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano announced he would not contest the vote that would replace him as Senate President after Senator Joel Villanueva joined a new majority bloc, acknowledging that leadership positions are temporary and offering his cooperation to the next elected president. Shortly thereafter, Senate minority members, led by Senator Loren Legarda, formally appointed Cayetano as the Senate minority floor leader. The move comes amid a pending petition by minority senators to the Supreme Court challenging the June 3 reorganization of the chamber, which was conducted with only half of the Senate present.