Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is elected Senate president during a special session of the Philippine Congress on Wednesday, settling a leadership dispute in the upper chamber. Multiple reports say the vote occurs after Sen. Joel Villanueva joins the existing 12-member majority bloc, enabling Gatchalian to secure enough votes to take the Senate presidency. Several outlets describe the new majority as including Gatchalian, Villanueva, Majority Leader Sen. Migz Zubiri, and Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Chiz Escudero, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, and Lito Lapid. Gatchalian is also described as being sworn in following the election and being the fourth Senate president of the 20th Congress. Reports add that he succeeds Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who was removed as Senate president on June 3. Separately, Malacañang issues a congratulatory message to Gatchalian, expressing readiness of the Senate majority to carry out its duties and thanking the House of Representatives leadership under Speaker Bodjie Dy.