An emotional Senator Pia Cayetano on Wednesday confronted her colleagues on the Senate floor, recalling the terror of the May 13 gunfire incident that forced lawmakers to scramble for safety in their offices.
Cayetano expressed deep hurt over remarks downplaying the severity of the security breach, revealing that she feared for her life during the commotion.
“Para sa amin na andito, napakaraming nangyari. Takot na takot po ako na kailangan ko nang magpaalam sa mga anak ko. Para sabihin n’yo na walang nangyari, napakasakit para sa aming lahat na andito,” Cayetano said.
For those of us who were here, so much happened. I was so terrified that I felt the need to say goodbye to my children. For you to say that nothing happened, that is very painful for all of us who were here.
The senator also slammed her colleagues in the former majority bloc for their lack of empathy, noting that none of them reached out to check on those who were trapped inside the building.
“Wala po akong sinisisi pero pagkatapos ng lahat, pagtingin ko sa group natin, yung dating majority group, walang ni isa sa inyong nangamusta sa amin. Some of you I’ve known for 20 years, 10 years, and I didn’t even hear any of you say, ‘Kumusta kayo d’yan?’ Napakasakit nun sa ‘kin, sobrang sakit,” she added.
I am not blaming anyone, but after everything, when I looked at our group, the former majority group, not a single one of you checked up on us. Some of you I’ve known for 20 years, 10 years, and I didn’t even hear any of you say, “How are you guys doing there?” That is very painful to me, incredibly painful.
Cayetano urged senators who were absent during the incident to respect the trauma experienced by those who were present.
“I am very ready to share my story, to ask questions, pero kung wala ho kayo dito, ‘wag n’yo hong kuwestyunin yung mga nangyari sa mga nandito. You have your own story, I respect that. But please respect my own story,” Cayetano said.
I am very ready to share my story, to ask questions, but if you were not here, do not question what happened to those who were here…
The tension arose after Senator Risa Hontiveros claimed the Senate “sustained a profound injury to its dignity, credibility, and moral authority” and described the aftermath as if nothing had happened (“parang walang nangyari”).
Hontiveros later clarified she was referring to the institutional response, adding, “Our grief as senators is valid, but our mandate requires action.”
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano quickly defended the leadership’s handling of the crisis, assuring Hontiveros that behind-the-scenes security and diplomatic coordination were ongoing.
He explained that certain details were withheld from the public to prevent “alarm and confusion,” but rejected the notion that the issue was being swept under the rug (“hindi po ibig sabihin na parang walang nangyari lang”).
In response to the growing friction, Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III called for the security breach to be elevated to the committee of the whole, describing it as an extraordinary issue affecting institutional security. Senate President Cayetano then suggested tackling the matter in a private caucus to allow the chamber to proceed with its regular legislative business.