Fresh speculation over a possible leadership shakeup gripped the Senate on Monday, barely a week after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano assumed the top post, while also following last week’s series of events that unsettled the chamber and cast doubt over its stability.

According to a report by RH Raymund Dadpaas, several senators have expressed disappointment over the series of events that began with the sudden appearance of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, escalated into a shooting incident late Wednesday, and ended with his reported escape early Thursday.

Despite the turmoil, a bloc aligned with former President Rodrigo Duterte has consolidated numbers and now claims majority control in the Senate, positioning itself ahead of the anticipated impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

However, the group’s majority remains fragile after dela Rosa went back into hiding, leaving the bloc short of the 13 votes typically required to secure control.

Amid the uncertainty, two former Senate presidents — Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri — have emerged as possible contenders should a leadership change materialize.

Pressure is mounting on the Senate to convene immediately and begin the impeachment trial, with several religious groups urging lawmakers not to delay the constitutionally mandated process.

Lawmakers are expected to tackle the issue once the session resumes at 3 p.m. Monday, though questions remain on whether the current leadership will hold and if proceedings will move forward as scheduled.

Attention is also on Sen. Robin Padilla, who is being linked in reports to dela Rosa’s escape. Some senators, particularly those now in the minority, are expected to seek explanations from Cayetano and other leaders over last week’s events.

Conflicting accounts have deepened divisions within the chamber. Some lawmakers have been accused of leaving ahead of the incident in anticipation of unrest — allegations they deny — while others are demanding answers on why a caucus was held among select members and how dela Rosa, who had been placed under Senate protective custody, managed to disappear.

As political maneuvering continues, senators say the priority remains to formally open the impeachment proceedings, in hopes of easing public concerns that the trial may be delayed or derailed altogether.