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Philippine Senate president allied with Duterte removed ahead of his daughter’s impeachment trial
Gatchalian won 13 of 24 votes as Marcos allies regained control before the Senate begins Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial in July.
On Wednesday, the Philippine Senate elected Sherwin Gatchalian as president with 13 of 24 votes, ending a leadership standoff by removing an ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Following a two-week standoff, two factions claimed control of the Senate after Alan Peter Cayetano briefly captured the presidency in May based on conflicting legal interpretations.
Impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte will begin in July after the House of Representatives impeached her last month over alleged crimes including unexplained wealth and assassination threats.
Tensions reflect a bitter falling out between President Ferdinand Marcos and the Duterte family, complicated by the International Criminal Court's pursuit of Rodrigo Duterte and former police chief Ronald dela Rosa for alleged drug war killings.
University of the Philippines professor Jean Franco called the shift "a relief," but warned that the country's democracy, "with its weak and fragile institutions," faces more headwinds ahead.