Sen. Mark Villar has left the minority bloc led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and joined the Senate majority led by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, increasing its membership to 14 of the 24 senators.
Villar’s move was confirmed during a plenary session, where he was also named chairman of the Senate public works committee and a member of the Commission on Appointments.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri denied that the move was politically motivated or connected to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Zubiri said Villar wanted to work more effectively through his committee assignments and stressed that joining the majority does not determine how senators will vote in the trial.
Cayetano said he understood the circumstances behind changing political alliances and vowed that the remaining minority members would continue their constitutional duties.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 9, 2026
