Philippines Senate ousts President Alan Peter Cayetano

The Philippine Senate voted to declare all leadership positions vacant and elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore, effectively ending Alan Peter Cayetano’s brief tenure as Senate President. Cayetano insisted he remained the "legal" and "moral" president, while the chamber’s minority bloc continued to push forward with investigations and committee hearings.

Akbayan Party welcomed Cayetano’s removal, labeling him the worst Senate president in the nation’s history and urging a transparent inquiry into the leadership dispute, the May 13 Senate shooting, and the alleged protection of Senator Ronald dela Rosa. The party also called for the Senate to convene an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte.

The episode highlights deep divisions within the Senate between majority and minority blocs and a push for greater accountability in the legislative body.