Senate minority wants Cayetano to quit as leader on Day 2 of majority no-show

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Senate minority bloc called for the resignation of Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president on Day 2 of the majority senators’ no-show at the plenary session on Tuesday, June 2. 

“Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano should resign as he has shown that he cannot function as the leader of the Senate anymore,” Sen. Erwin Tulfo told the media, standing with his fellow 11-member minority bloc senators.

“It’s a clear abandonment of responsibility, dereliction of duty, and a blatant disregard of the rules that govern this institution. The Senate cannot be made to stop working simply because its presiding officer refuses to lead,” he added. 

Tulfo cited Senate Rule 14, Section 41 which states that a Senate president may postpone the holding of the session only after a consultation with the majority leader and the minority leader.

“That rule was violated,” he said. “This is not merely a procedural lapse, it is a direct violation of the rules of the Senate and a serious disrespect for the institution of the Filipino people.” 

Meanwhile, Cayetano went live on social media to air his side on the majority’s absence. 

He said the bloc’s latest move was a “legal and moral use of parliamentary rules” to protect crucial committee hearings such as the Blue Ribbon set for Thursday, June 4. 

The hearing will tackle issues such as the anomalies on the controversial flood control projects. Sen. Pia Cayetano will preside as the new chairperson. 

He said the hearing would unravel “truths” about several issues, not just the flood control corruption scandal.  

“Ginamit nila yung parliamentary tool na walk out… So ngayon po ang majority, ginagamit din po ang rules sa tama, morally, legally,” Cayetano said.

[Translation: They used the parliamentary tool to walk out… So now the majority is using the rules correctly, morally, legally]

The minority bloc earlier walked out of session to stop the majority’s move to allow virtual participation of senators. It was proposed after fugitive Sen. Bato dela Rosa went back to hiding while facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over his involvement in the bloody drug war of the Duterte administration.  

On Monday, June 1, the majority snubbed the session supposedly in solidarity with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who was arrested over graft and plunder charges tied to the flood control scam.