The Senate convened as an impeachment court on Monday and began the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte with Sen. Francis Escudero elected as presiding officer. Led by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, 21 senators dressed in red robes attended Day 1 of the scheduled 92 trial days. Duterte was not present; her lawyers said she was...
Tag: Sherwin Gatchalian
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Gatchalian elected Senate president during special session of Congress
The new majority in the Senate solidified its grip on Wednesday after forming a 13-member bloc that elected Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president. The vote was unanimous for Gatchalian, who on June 3 was elected Senate president pro tempore by the then 12-member bloc. This time he was voted president of the chamber during the...
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Tenderness and ‘heroes’ at the Cayetano bloc’s blue ribbon committee hearing
There was tenderness galore on Thursday at the blue ribbon committee hearing of the bloc led by Alan Peter Cayetano, by his own declaration “the legitimate, legal and moral Senate President.” Ignoring the changes made on Wednesday in the chamber’s power structure by the 12-member majority led by Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, Cayetano...
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New majority elects Sherwin Gatchalian as acting Senate president
A new Senate majority unexpectedly emerged on Wednesday, with 12 senators electing Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president pro tempore and acting Senate president, ending the chaotic three-week leadership of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. The change occurred after the Cayetano bloc’s Sen. Francis Escudero showed up and joined the 11-member minority on the last session day...
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Bonoan’s ‘bad leadership’ and other highlights of the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing
The resumption on Monday of the Senate blue ribbon committee’s inquiry into the corruption scandal was marked by disclosures and denials, including Manuel Bonoan’s claim that he was unaware of and did not benefit from multibillion-peso “allocables” or kickbacks during his three-year watch as head of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Senators...
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Marcos urged to appoint ‘anti-Pogo czar’
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III wants President Marcos to name a “czar” to ensure that the government enforces his new policy to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) now deemed hotbeds of crime and other illegal activities. In an interview with CoverStory, Pimentel raised the need for the President to “designate” an anti-Pogo...