Marilyn Cahatol

Sen. Win Gatchalian presides over the Committee on Ways and Means hearing on various measures seeking to impose value-added tax (VAT) on digital transactions Thursday, July 6, 2023. Gatchalian pointed out that imposing VAT on digital revenues will help shore up the country’s national revenues, which fell as a result of the government’s multiple-pronged programs to stave off the COVID-19 crisis’ worst consequences. “We all know that we are still reeling from the pandemic, as well as high inflation in the past few years. The committee is in unison with the national government in its quest of increasing revenue take to help support priority programs of the government,” the Committee on Ways and Means chairperson said. Furthermore, Gatchalian stressed that the measures will help provide a fair playing field between physical transactions and online transactions. Joseph Vidal,  Senate PRIB

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<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/177949389834920230706-ph-senate-gatchalian-SPRIB-4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Win Gatchalian presides over the Committee on Ways and Means hearing on various measures seeking to impose value-added tax (VAT) on digital transactions Thursday, July 6, 2023. <em>Joseph Vidal,  Senate PRIB</em> </span></span></span>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said the Senate minority bloc, which he called the “Solid Bloc 11”, wants Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to be Senate president amid rumors of another coup brewing in the unstable upper chamber.</div><p>Talk of another leadership change comes weeks since Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and a majority of 13 senators took control of the Senate.</p><p>One member of the Cayetano bloc, Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; Dela Rosa, is the subject of an International Criminal Court warrant that the Department of Justice has deemed valid and has ordered law enforcement to implement.</p><p>“We, of the SB-11 or Solid Bloc 11, all want Sen. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian to become Senate president,” Pangilinan said in a statement.</p><p>He noted that Gatchalian, who chaired the Committee on Finance during the deliberation of the controversial 2026 national budget, “has proven…that he can protect the people’s money and ensure that public funds go where they are most needed.”</p><p>Pangilinan said Gatchalian is “competent, steady, and fair,” and “can unite a broader, reform-oriented Senate that is more balanced, more accountable, and acceptable even to some members of the current majority.”</p><p>“Even current <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/cayetano-replaces-sotto-as-senate-president-1539">Senate President Cayetano </a>has said he might vote for Senator Win as Senate president,” he said.</p><p>Gatchalian is part of the new 11-member minority bloc that supported Senate President Vicente Sotto III in voting that led to Cayetano&#x27;s election.</p><div><span style="background-color:transparent">Dela Rosa, a crucial vote in the Senate coup, </span><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/14/bato-has-left-senate-premises-1107"></a><span style="background-color:transparent"><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/14/bato-has-left-senate-premises-1107">departed</a> </span><span style="background-color:transparent">the Senate premises on May 14. His whereabouts remain unknown, leaving the majority bloc thin with 12 members.</span></div><p>Aside from the finance committee, Gatchalian 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/2026/5/22/gatchalian-says-ready-to-be-senate-president-kung-handa-handa-talaga-1034">Gatchalian says &#x27;ready&#x27; to be Senate president: &#x27;Kung handa, handa talaga&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;SENATE LEADERSHIP WON&#x27;T CHANGE SOUNDNESS OF DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT CASE&#x27;</strong></div><p>The ascendance of the Cayetano bloc, which includes party-mates and allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has raised concerns on whether the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will push through.</p><p>Cayetano has said that the impeachment court, which has already convened, will decide based on evidence and not political alignment.</p><p>Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, House trial spokesperson, said leadership changes at the Senate will not affect the case.</p><p>He called the issue an internal matter for the Senate that &quot;will not affect the soundness and the volume of evidence that the House prosecution team will be presenting to the impeachment court.&quot;</p><p>The House impeached Vice President Duterte earlier this month on allegations that include threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, alleged misuse of confidential funds, and unexplained wealth.</p><p>The vice president has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated. She has also questioned proceedings before the Supreme Court.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SMtdtoWtAHA?si=HCnScEFVe3ZoOV_j" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>“We, of the SB-11 or Solid Bloc 11, all want Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian to become Senate President,” Pangilinan said in a statement.</p>

“We, of the SB-11 or Solid Bloc 11, all want Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian to become Senate President,” Pangilinan said in a statement.

Pangilinan says 'Solid Bloc 11' minority backs Gatchalian for Senate president

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Pangilinan says 'Solid Bloc 11' minority backs Gatchalian for Senate president

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 23, 2026 08:09 AM PHT

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Updated May 23, 2026 03:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Sherwin Gatchalian

Senate

coup

leadership change

Francis Pangilinan

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