SENATE WELCOMES SEN. LEGARDA AS NEW PRESIDENT PROTEMPORE

The ayes have it, and Senator Loren Legarda has officially been installed as the new Senate President Pro Tempore, assuming the chamber's second-highest office following a swift viva voce vote this afternoon.

Her election was the final hammer blow in a rapid-fire reorganization that saw the new majority bloc consolidate power immediately after the installation of Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President.