Senator Joel Villanueva showed up at the Senate’s special session on Wednesday, June 17, and joined Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian’s bloc.
Villanueva’s attendance delivered the 13th vote needed for the election of Gatchalian as Senate President and broke the Senate leadership impasse.
Before senators entered the plenary hall, Villanueva’s nameplate and belongings were seen alongside members of Gatchalian’s group.
Earlier, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano acknowledged that his own bid for the Senate presidency was no longer viable after speaking with Villanueva.
“After speaking with Sen. Joel Villanueva, it appears our colleagues on the other side will soon have the numbers to elect a new Senate President. I will not stand in the way of that vote,” Cayetano said.
On June 15, Villanueva said he would attend a special session of Congress if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called one.
Villanueva had previously been part of the bloc led by Cayetano, which had skipped the special session.
