Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian reaffirmed his support for Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, saying the upper chamber’s leadership remains “very stable” despite reports of division within the majority bloc.
Speaking in Filipino during DWIZ’s Usapang Senado on Saturday, Gatchalian dismissed concerns following Senator JV Ejercito’s revelation that five senators were considering leaving the majority after former and current lawmakers were linked to irregular flood control projects under Senate investigation.
“First of all, I see that Senator Sotto’s leadership is stable,” Gatchalian said, noting that the Senate leader has been open to reforms that promote transparency. He cited Sotto’s initiative to make budget amendments on the floor public and to allow more time for senators to review the proposed 2026 national budget.
The Senate finance chair explained that, unlike in previous years, lawmakers will now be given three days to go over the budget between its second and third readings. “Senator Sotto agreed to that suggestion… that’s also a reform to make budget deliberation more transparent,” he said.
Asked whether he would stay in the majority bloc, Gatchalian replied, “Yes, definitely. Will stay with Sen. Sotto.”
He confirmed speaking with Ejercito but refused to disclose details, stressing that his focus remains on the 2026 budget deliberations and assisting victims of the recent Cebu earthquake and cyclone.
“We talked, but I’m not going to talk about what we talked about,” he said. “For me, it’s important that this 2026 budget is done properly, and what’s important to me is how to help those who were hit by the earthquake and cyclone.”
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, earlier revealed that nearly all senators in the 19th Congress made insertions amounting to about P100 billion in the 2025 national budget.
