Philippine Senate leadership shift leaves Sara Duterte exposed ahead of impeachment trial

A leadership stand-off in the Philippine Senate ended Wednesday with the removal of an ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte as leader of the chamber, which will soon start the impeachment trial of his daughter, incumbent Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio.With 13 of 24 senators backing him, Sherwin Gatchalian, an ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, was elected Senate president. His rival, Alan Peter Cayetano, a key supporter of Duterte, admitted defeat.“He’s the leader the Senate needs in this time of division and disarray,” said Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who nominated Gatchalian. “I know he will be able to rise above the fray and lead us back to our principal function, which is to attend the work of legislation.”