Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday, May 25, urged his colleagues to shift their focus toward critical national issues, warning that political alignments and leadership disputes are drowning out the real concerns of ordinary Filipinos.
In a privilege speech, Cayetano emphasized that the Senate should prioritize discussions on inflation, the economy, agriculture, and fuel security rather than internal power struggles.
“Twenty-four tayo. Kung ang labing-isa sa atin ang sinasabi ay ‘Palitan si Cayetano,’ and there were 13 who were saying there was Con-Ass (Constitutional Assembly), et cetera — that’s what people are hearing, not inflation, not the economy, not the problem of health,” (We are 24. If 11 of us are saying ‘Replace Cayetano,’ and there were 13 who were saying there was Con-Ass, et cetera—that’s what people are hearing, not inflation, not the economy, not the problem of health), Cayetano pointed out.
“Pag-usapan natin ang agriculture, agricultural smuggling, problema sa taniman ngayon, problema sa fertilizer, ang 7% inflation. Pag-usapan din natin kung ilang araw pa ba ang itatagal ng ating (supply ng) gasolina,” (Let us talk about agriculture, agricultural smuggling, the current farming problems, the fertilizer issue, the 7% inflation. Let us also talk about how many days our gasoline supply will last), he added.
Cayetano, who assumed the Senate leadership on May 11 after unseating Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, stressed the necessity of maintaining an independent chamber that works collaboratively with the Executive branch while upholding constitutional checks and balances.
“Why can’t we bind together, minority-majority, and be an independent Senate? Not to confront the executive, but to collaborate, also as checks and balances,” he said.
Defining his role, Cayetano declared himself the “servant leader of the 24 Senators,” adding, “I’m here at your service.”
He has called for an all-senators caucus on Tuesday, May 26, to address upcoming impeachment proceedings and pressing legislation before the June 6 sine die adjournment.
Clashes Over “Propaganda” Video
The call for unity comes amid rising plenary tensions. On the same day, the 11-member minority bloc—dubbed the “Solid Bloc 11″—strongly condemned a video presented by Senator Imee Marcos, labeling it “horrible propaganda.”
Marcos, a close ally of Vice President Sara Duterte and member of the new majority, alleged during her speech that there are active efforts to pursue Charter change through a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass).
She claimed the moves aim to extend the terms of top officials and raise the minimum presidential age from 45 to 50—a move she argued is designed to disqualify the Vice President from the 2028 elections.
Following her presentation, Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri raised a point of order against the unparliamentary material, moving to strike the video from the Senate records.
”It’s unparliamentary. And we have seen videos presenting evidence on issues taken up on the floor…But to come up with an opinionated piece like that, ganong klaseng na (that type of) propaganda, na (that’s) sowing intrigue,” Zubiri argued.
Former Senate President Sotto backed the motion, stating the “editorial video” made it appear as though the chamber was “planning something sinister.”
The motion to expunge the video was seconded by nearly the entire minority bloc, including Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Bam Aquino, Win Gatchalian, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, and JV Ejercito. Senator Lito Lapid was the sole minority member who did not join the secondment.