Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has criticized the recent 28-day leadership standoff in the Senate under former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, revealing that the prolonged impasse cost taxpayers roughly ₱700 million while producing minimal legislative progress.
In a social media post on Thursday, June 18, Lacson used budget estimates from newly elected Senate President Win Gatchalian, the former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, to highlight that the chamber spends approximately ₱25 million daily on salaries, allowances, operational expenses, and maintenance.
“THE PHILIPPINE SENATE in 28 days under Alan Peter Cayetano: Estimated Cost – P700M. Output – chaos, gunfire, Bato’s escape despite ICC-issued warrant while under its ‘protective custody’, session boycott, failed destabilization attempt, unauthorized committee hearings highlighted by one not presided nor attended by a single senator,” Lacson wrote.
“WHAT A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS’ MONEY!” he added.
Clarifying the calculations in a follow-up comment online, Lacson explained that the ₱700 million figure was directly derived from the Senate’s official funding allocation under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“As per estimate made by the erstwhile Finance committee chairman, now SP Gatchalian, under the 2026 GAA, the Senate spends approximately ₱25M/day — salaries, allowances, MOOE, etc. Multiply that by 28 days of inaction and inactivity, it’s ₱700M,” Lacson said.
The 28-day legislative deadlock began on May 11 when Cayetano first assumed the Senate leadership, taking over from Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Political tensions reached a boiling point on June 3 when senators declared all leadership seats vacant following a session boycott staged by Cayetano’s allies.
Because of the political standstill, the upper chamber failed to pass critical legislation before Congress adjourned its regular session on June 6. The inaction prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to call for a special session to address urgent national measures.
The impasse was finally broken on June 17 during the first special session of the 20th Congress. Gatchalian was officially elected as the new Senate President to replace Cayetano after 13 senators attended the session, successfully securing a quorum. Among those present was Senator Joel Villanueva, whose attendance signaled a shift away from Cayetano’s political bloc.
Following Gatchalian’s formal assumption of the Senate presidency, the chamber immediately began reorganizing its leadership structure and appointing new heads for its key legislative committees.