Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano dismissed demands from the minority bloc for his resignation on Tuesday, questioning the push to oust him just weeks after he took over the chamber’s top post.
Speaking during a social media livestream, Cayetano pointed out that previous Senate leaders were traditionally granted a grace period to settle into their positions before facing leadership challenges.
He suggested that he is not being extended the same professional courtesy.
“Every Senate president that I’ve served under, whether I was their majority leader or minority leader, whether I was in the leadership or I was just a simple follower, I gave them a chance,” Cayetano said.
Directly challenging the 11-member minority coalition, he added:
“So let me ask the 11 minority (senators) who (were) asking me to resign now. Kahit na isang oras, binigyan nyo ba ako ng chance?”
The friction intensified between the majority coalition and the “Solid Bloc 11,” who claimed Cayetano neglected his responsibilities after plenary sessions were called off starting Monday. The minority legislators argued that internal political friction should not paralyze the legislative body, particularly with numerous priority bills still pending.
They reiterated that the majority’s absence has effectively halted Senate operations, demanding his immediate step-down.
Rather than handling the dispute on the Senate floor, Cayetano used a Facebook broadcast to defend his allies and deny allegations of absenteeism.
He countered by accusing the minority bloc of trying to unseat him purely to disrupt the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s ongoing probe into flood control funds.