The 11-member Senate minority bloc, known as “SB-11,” called for the resignation of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, following a two-day absence of the majority bloc and its allies from plenary sessions.
During a press briefing, the minority lawmakers condemned Cayetano, claiming he instructed his allies to skip Monday and Tuesday’s sessions.
This boycott effectively paralyzed legislative operations despite numerous pending bills requiring immediate attention.
“Cayetano should resign as he has shown that he cannot function as the leader of the Senate anymore,” the bloc said in a joint statement that was read publicly by Senator Erwin Tulfo.
The lawmakers slammed the session cancellations as a breakdown of institutional governance.
“What happened today was a clear abandonment of responsibility, a dereliction of duty and a blatant disregard of the rules that govern this institution because the Senate cannot be made to stop working simply because its presiding officer refuses to lead.”
The SB-11 highlighted Rule XIV, Section 41 of the Senate Rules, which mandates that the Senate President must consult with both the majority and minority floor leaders before calling off a session.
They asserted that Cayetano bypassed this protocol when he advised Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales that majority senators would skip Tuesday’s proceedings.
“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 and the Filipino people,” they added.
While the session hall remained empty, Cayetano took to Facebook Live to defend his absence.
He fired back at the minority bloc, accusing the SB-11 of plotting to overthrow his leadership to derail the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s ongoing investigation into the flood control fund controversy.