Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian attends the plenary budget deliberations at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on November 27, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SENATE- BUDGET HEARING

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177941660314820251127-senate-budget-deliberation-gatchalian-JC6746.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Sherwin Gatchalian attends the plenary budget deliberations at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on November 27, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday said he is “ready” to be a Senate President, amid rumors of another coup brewing in the upper chamber.</p><p>“Tingin ko marami naman na tayong natutunan sa Senado lalo na yung mga komplikadong komite. Kaya kung handa, handa talaga,” he told DZMM Teleradyo.</p><p>Gatchalian is part of the 11-member minority bloc that voted against the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/cayetano-replaces-sotto-as-senate-president-1539">new Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano</a> favored by 13 senators including Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who resurfaced at the Senate on the day of the coup after six months of non-appearance.</p><p>Dela Rosa, who was facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), left the Senate premises on May 14, leaving the majority bloc thin with 12 members.</p><p>Reports have been circulating of another possible Senate coup to unseat Cayetano.</p><p>Gatchalian said the minority bloc has been discussing possibilities, but refused to provide further details on its plans.</p><p>“Naniniwala naman ako na may God’s will at God’s time. Kapag talagang pinlano sa iyo yan ng Diyos, dadating at dadating yan,” he said.</p><p>Before the recent leadership change, Gatchalian served as the chair of the Committee on Finance. He also headed the committees on ways and means, basic education, energy, and economic affairs over his 10 years in the Senate.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/cayetano-holds-on-to-senate-presidency-minority-gains-ejercito-zubiri-1848">Cayetano holds on to Senate presidency; minority gains Ejercito, Zubiri</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>‘RESTORE SENATE DIGNITY’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The senator said the Senate has to restore its dignity and image after the shooting incident last May 13.</p><p>“Sa loob ng sampung taon ko sa Senado, ngayon lang ako nakaranas ng ganito. Kaya ang una dapat nating gawin ay ayusin ang dignidad at imahe ng Senado,” Gatchalian said.</p><p>He maintained that those responsible for the incident should be held liable.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/22/aplasca-accountable-for-senators-thinking-senate-was-under-attack-tulfo-says-0140">Aplasca accountable for senators thinking Senate was under attack, Tulfo says</a></div><p>The shooting incident took place hours the same night as the transmission of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, and a few hours before Dela Rosa left the Senate premises.</p><p>Dela Rosa’s camp has denied that the shooting incident was a “diversion tactic” for his “escape.”</p><p>Gatchalian said the Senate will establish a committee of the whole to discuss the incident and make recommendations to ensure the incident does not happen again.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/13/-everyone-safe-after-shooting-incident-at-senate-2212">&#x27;Everyone safe&#x27; after shooting incident at Senate; probe underway</a></div><p>He noted however that an independent body must also probe the upper chamber and the NBI, the two parties reported to have exchanged gunshots that night.</p><p>“I agree na dapat maibestigahan din ang Senado dahil kasama ang Senado diyan. Imbestigahan din ang NBI dahil iyan ay isang grupo na kasama rin dito.”</p><p>Senate Acting Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca, who admitted he was the first to fire a warning shot, has been put on a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/15/ombudsman-places-senate-security-chief-aplasca-on-preventive-suspension-1413">six-month preventive suspension</a> by the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kvdF0z86USU?si=MaK0VnwDrXJeBWzl" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the minority bloc has been discussing possibilities, but refused to provide further details on its plans.</p>

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the minority bloc has been discussing possibilities, but refused to provide further details on its plans.

Gatchalian says 'ready' to be Senate president: 'Kung handa, handa talaga'

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Gatchalian says 'ready' to be Senate president: 'Kung handa, handa talaga'

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 22, 2026 10:34 AM PHT

Read More:

Sherwin Gatchalian

Senate president

shooting

Bato dela Rosa

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