SENATE President Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said he was prepared to give up the Senate’s top post but not the battle that sparked the leadership upheaval in the first place: exposing the truth behind billions of pesos in flood control funds.
In a social media statement, Cayetano stressed that the recent battle in the Senate was never about positions or titles but about uncovering alleged irregularities involving flood control funds and ensuring accountability.
“This was never about the Senate presidency. From the very beginning it was about the truth — the truth about the flood-control funds, the billions meant to shield our towns and our families from the waters, the protection that was paid for and never came,” he said.
“That is the fight that began all of this — one side wanted to bring it out, the other desperate to keep it covered. And it is a fight that we intend to continue, no title or position required,” he added.
Cayetano’s statement came as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called a special session on June 17, which Malacañang said was meant to tackle urgent legislative measures.
Cayetano, however, questioned whether the session was truly about legislation, noting that none of the President’s 21 priority measures appeared ready for passage.
“The President himself named twenty-one priority measures for passage by June, and when our leadership changed, his Palace promised the public there would be no slowdown. Yet not one of those twenty-one appears to be set for passage today,” he said.
“The lone priority measure on the calendar at all, the Anti-Political Dynasty bill, sits only at interpellation. We could have done the people’s work these past weeks — had the effort gone into governing rather than into counting to thirteen. Instead, the real work waits. Cover-up time muna,” he added.
He also questioned whether the special session was intended to pass legislation or simply legitimize a new Senate leader. Cayetano reiterated his objections to the June 3 Senate session, saying constitutional questions surrounding it should be resolved by the Supreme Court.
“We have said from the first, and we maintain still, that what was done on June 3 was done without the quorum the Constitution requires, and was, for that reason, void,” he said.
He also renewed concerns about executive influence over the Senate. “The deeper concern was never the count alone. It was the hand that reached into this chamber from outside it. The independence of the Senate is not a courtesy the Executive may grant or withdraw at will; it is a wall the Constitution built on purpose,” he said.
Despite the leadership change, Cayetano said he would continue supporting urgent measures, including aid for earthquake-hit Mindanao.
He ended with a promise to continue pursuing accountability. “I promise you, we will get to the bottom of this. We will find the Masterminds. We will hold them accountable,” he said.
