Former Senate President Koko Pimentel suggested on Sunday, May 31, that Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano consider resigning from his leadership post if it would restore stability and unity to the deeply divided Upper Chamber.
In a radio interview, Pimentel expressed deep concern that recent conflicts have paralyzed the institution, preventing it from functioning effectively. He urged Cayetano to reflect on whether his continued leadership truly benefits the chamber.
“You volunteered to be a leader of the chamber, tapos yung chamber mo walang magawa, kasi puro kayo away,” Pimentel said. “So baka maisip mo, baka di pala ako para dito. I have to step back, ibigay na natin ito for the good of the chamber, hindi yung for my own good,” he added.
Prioritizing Public Service Over Prestige
Pimentel emphasized that the welfare of the institution and public service must outweigh personal prestige, power, and the high-ranking status that comes with the Senate presidency.
“Kasi pwede kang mag-isip ng for your own good, yung honor mo sa sarili mo, naging Senate president ka, may power ka, meron kang mga responsibiltieis, at No. 3 ka sa linya sa gobyerno sa power. Pero nagli-lead ka ng isang chamber ng isang body na walang patutunguhan,” he lamented.
If the internal turmoil persists, Pimentel suggested that the chamber may need to seek out a new leader capable of healing the rift between the 13-member majority bloc and the 11-member minority group, known as the Solid Bloc.
“So nahawakan mo na, nakita mo na, maybe this is not for me or this is not yet for me. So let’s get a better unifier to run the Senate,” he said.
Growing Divisions and Limited Results
Reflecting on his time as minority leader alongside Senator Risa Hontiveros, Pimentel noted that despite political differences, lawmakers previously maintained professional, working relationships—a stark contrast to today’s hostile environment.
“Ako, kahit minority leader ako noon, kaya ko makipag-kape sa kanila. Ngayon ito ang balita nila sa incentive ngayon walang pansinan,” he said.
With only two years remaining in the current legislative term before election season begins, Pimentel revealed that some senators are already doing some “soul-searching” due to the chamber’s lack of accomplishments.
“Yung iba concerned sila di lang sa sarili nila, concerned sila dun sa chamber, sa institution eh. Nag iisip din na teka muna, matatapos na ang term natin, two years to go, wala ka pa na aachieve, then filing na ng certificate next year. Mag iisip sila, teka muna, hanap na lang tayo ng better unifier,” he stated. “Nagso-soul searching na iba diyan, kung gusto ko pa ba mapabilang sa isang institution na pag balikan sa history, masasabi ng taong walang nagawa. Walang nangyari kasi …puro bangayan,” he pointed out.
Protecting Minority Traditions
Pimentel also warned the majority against marginalizing the minority bloc, reminding them that Senate rules and democratic traditions exist precisely to protect minority participation.
“Ang Senado, demokrasya yan. Ang senado, demokrasya yan. Therefore, ang rules namin, pinoproteksyunan ang minority,” he said. “At hindi pwede patahimikin ang minority hindi sila pwedeng i-etsepwera. Eh kung ganun sabihin mo ok na majority, aandar na yung barko, kahit hindi kayo sumakay, may hearing na. Hindi pwede, parang inetsepwera mo pa ang napakalaking minority,” he added.
He concluded by stressing that parliamentary tradition strictly forbids the majority from interfering in how the minority selects its leaders and committee representatives.
“Ang tradition dyan, sa pagpili ng minority leader di dapat makialam si majority. Pagdating sa minority representation sa committees wag makialam si majority, ganun din sa bicam,” he insisted.