Manila: The bloc that elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President claimed Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is no longer the chamber's leader after the Senate adjourned sine die with a new set of officers and committee chairpersons.

According to Philippines News Agency, with 12 senators present, the chamber declared a quorum before Senator Vicente Sotto III moved to declare all elected positions in the Senate vacant. Senator Francis Escudero, who belonged to the majority bloc, attended the session and helped the chamber reach the quorum needed to proceed.

In a statement, the Gatchalian-led bloc indicated that the Senate proceeded based on a quorum of 12, using 22 senators as the recognized base number under the Supreme Court ruling on the Avelino v. Cuenco case. The bloc emphasized that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is no longer Senate President after a vote was held to declare all positions vacant, including the presidency.

The bloc clarified that Gatchalian has not yet been elected Senate President because the post still requires 13 votes under the Constitution. They stressed the importance of moving forward with the Senate's work for the people now that all positions are vacant and the previous leadership is over.

Cayetano, however, rejected the legality of the session, arguing that 13 senators, or a majority of all 24 members, are needed to conduct business and elect Senate leaders. He stated in a Facebook livestream that the majority of 24 is 13, and Avelino v. Cuenco does not apply because the Senate had adjourned on May 26 and was scheduled to resume on June 1, necessitating a fresh roll call.

Cayetano also contested Gatchalian's designation as acting Senate President, asserting there was no resignation, removal, death, or absolute incapacity that would trigger succession under Senate rules. He described the actions as an illegal coup d'etat accompanied by the discarding of the Constitution.