Senators formally convene as an impeachment court to try the complaints filed against Vice President Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on May 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Amid rumors of another leadership shakeup in the Senate, Senator Risa Hontiveros, a member of the minority bloc, said on Monday that their number had not changed. The minority is currently made up of 11 senators, two senators short to change the Senate President.
Minority senators who now call themselves Solid Bloc 11 (SB-11) are pushing for Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to be Senate president. Gatchalian has said he is ready if the position is given to him.
Hontiveros confirmed that there are talks, but said there is no change in the current setup.
“Status quo pa rin. Alam niyo naman, di ba, para magkaroon ng leadership change, tulad nung nangyari two weeks ago, kailangan ng majority number of members of the Senate. So solid pa rin kaming labingisa sa minority,” she told reporters.
“Sa ngayon, wala pa pong naidaragdag. Kaya kami sa minority ay nakatutok talaga dun sa panunumbalik ng pagtingin ng ating mga kababayan sa atin, sa Senado, at pagpapatuloy ng mga trabaho namin,” she added.
According to Hontiveros, Gatchalian is very much capable of being Senate President.
“Kung maging Senate President si Senator Sherwin, that would be good for the Senate. Magka-batch kami, so isang dekada ko na siyang nakakatrabaho at saka naoobserbahan. Napakaseryosong legislator. Tuwing magsususpend, nagse-stay siya sa floor, hindi siya kaagad papasok sa lounge,” Hontiveros said. “And isa siya na pinahahalagahan talaga yung dignidad at yung reputasyon ng Senado.”
Hontiveros said she has heard of former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero as an option, but maintained that they remain firm behind Gatchalian.
She said Malacañang is not involved in the possible Senate leadership change, and that creating a new majority is based on common values and interests.
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PUBLIC TRUST
Hontiveros also assured that the minority is committed in bringing back the public’s trust on the Senate, especially after the May 13 gunfire.
“Pagkatapos ng mga pangyayari nung nakaraang linggo at yung two weeks ago, pati sa Privilege Speech ko na this is really the lowest na inabot ng Senado. Never, kahit nung martial law dictatorship, kahit noong mga coup attempts, never na nag-bullet proof vest, nag-armas ng long arms, nagkasa at nagpaputok ng arms na iyon sa loob nitong Senado. Kaya talagang parang nabastos yung dignidad ng institusyon at ng mamamayan,” she said.
“Nasa worst situation na nga kami sa ngayon eh. So there should be no way to go but up, nowhere to go but up. So magwasto kami sa harap, sa mata ng mamamayan. Tumutok ulit sa mga trabaho ang kinakailangan,” Hontiveros remarked.
If the Senate will have its own investigation on the shooting incident, Hontiveros believes it can be complimentary to the investigation being done by law enforcement agencies.
Their handling of the impeachment trial will also be a factor in bringing back the public’s trust, she said.
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