Jamaine Punzalan

Senator Win Gatchalian delivers a statement as the new Senate President Pro Tempore, June 3, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

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/178090069373120260603-senate-plenary-session-gatchalian-MT4 (2).jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Win Gatchalian delivers a statement as the new Senate President Pro Tempore, June 3, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration “only recognizes the leadership of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian” in the Senate, Malacañang said on Monday ahead of the executive’s formal request for a supplemental budget from the legislative branch.</p><p>The Palace gave the statement after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano pushed for a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/8/cayetano-proposes-arrangement-with-gatchalian-bloc-over-senate-leadership-row-0951">“joint certification” set-up</a> in the Senate, after a weeks-long power gridlock between two opposing blocs.</p><p>“Kinilala na ng ehekutibo kung sino ang tunay na liderato. Kung ito ay dadalhin sa korte para malaman ano ang resulta, nasa kanila yun,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.</p><p>“As far as the Palace is concerned, we are only recognizing the leadership of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian,” she said.</p><p>Cayetano lost his grip on the majority after Sen. Chiz Escudero bolted from the group after they refused to attend sessions following the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for his plunder case.</p><p>In an earlier message on social media, Cayetano urged Gatchalian not to allow the executive to use their bloc for politicking.</p><p>“Ang hiling lang po natin, sana ay huwag kumilos ang nasabing opisyal na parang siya pa ang biktima,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.</p><p>The chaos that rocked the Senate in May — including the firing of gunshots and the escape of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa — all happened under Cayetano’s approval and leadership, she said.</p><p>“Ang lahat ng kaguluhan nito ay hindi po dahil sa pakikialam ng Malacañang,” she said.</p><p>“So, ang sinasabi ay, ‘Mag-ingat sa Malacañang.’ Mas mag-ingat po ang taumbayan sa mga taong nagkukunwari at nagpapanggap na banal,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/8/tulfo-scores-cayetano-for-coaching-18-bagmen-warns-vs-scripture-quoting-devil-1245">Raffy Tulfo scores Cayetano bloc for &#x27;coaching&#x27; 18 ‘bagmen’, warns vs scripture-quoting &#x27;devil&#x27; </a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/8/erwin-tulfo-resumes-probe-into-flood-control-mess-amid-blue-ribbon-dispute-0912"></a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/8/erwin-tulfo-resumes-probe-into-flood-control-mess-amid-blue-ribbon-dispute-0912">&#x27;Ex-Co bodyguards&#x27; skip Tulfo-led flood control probe, show up at Padilla&#x27;s office </a></div><p>Last week, Marcos said he is considering asking Congress for a supplemental budget to augment government aid for those heavily-hit by rising prices due to the war in Iran.</p><p>Meetings are being conducted in the Palace to finalize the details of that request for a supplemental budget, Castro said.</p><p>The Palace is also waiting for the Senate’s request for the President to call for a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/marcos-inclined-to-call-for-special-session-if-gatchalian-bloc-sends-request-palace-1504">special session for Congress</a> to pass bills and tackle the promotion of several military officials that were stalled due to the leadership row in the chamber.</p><p>The tug-of-war for the Senate leadership takes place ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, where the Senate President will sit as the presiding officer of the impeachment court and will have decisive powers over the procedures and technicalities of the trial.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/gatchalian-says-to-preside-over-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-1020">Gatchalian says to preside over Sara Duterte impeachment trial</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/8/house-prosecution-files-non-reply-to-vp-sara-s-impeachment-answers-1304">Prosecution says ‘unnecessary’ to reply to Duterte’s ‘unresponsive’ answer to impeachment</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-PnmaDptRRk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BqCVKk2XqCo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration “only recognizes the leadership of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian” in the Senate, Malacañang said on Monday ahead of the executive’s formal request for a supplemental budget from the legislative branch.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration “only recognizes the leadership of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian” in the Senate, Malacañang said on Monday ahead of the executive’s formal request for a supplemental budget from the legislative branch.

Marcos only recognizes Gatchalian-led Senate, Palace says ahead of supplemental budget request

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Marcos only recognizes Gatchalian-led Senate, Palace says ahead of supplemental budget request

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 08, 2026 02:43 PM PHT

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Updated June 08, 2026 02:47 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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