Cayetano says he’s still legitimate Senate chief, slams shakeup as ‘illegal coup d’etat’
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano took to Facebook on Wednesday, June 3, to address the recent leadership reorganization in the Senate, asserting that he remains the legitimate Senate President and calling the plenary session illegal.
The broadcast followed a shift in the chamber where a group of 12 senators established a quorum, declared key leadership positions vacant, and designated Senator Win Gatchalian as acting Senate president pro tempore.
Cayetano argued that the 12 senators present did not have the required numbers under the law to change the Senate leadership.
"Kung tititgnan nyo po ang Rule 1 and 2 ng senado, na ayon to sa Philippine Constitution, para i-elect ang Senate president pro tempore at Senate President, ay kailangan po 13," he said. "So paano po nila aalisin si Sen Loren Legarda kung 12 lang po sila."
He also cited guidelines regarding the appointment of an acting Senate president, noting that the position can only be filled in these instances: resignation, removal, death, or absolute incapacity.
"Hindi po tayo nag reresign... hindi po nila ako na alis... buhay pa naman po siguro ako. Hindi po AI ito, hindi po AI ang kumakausap sainyo... nakapagsalita po ako. So wala pong ground para magkaroon ng active president," he said.
According to Cayetano, the objective of the sudden leadership change was to stop the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing scheduled on June 4 to investigate the flood control scam.
"Wala naman po silang ginawa ngayon kung hindi baguhin ang mga committee para walang blue ribbon committee hearing bukas para hindi maibitahan ang 18 Marines," he said.
The Senate president warned that the reorganization would delay the ongoing impeachment proceedings, explaining that any changes to the current rules would require formal publication before taking effect. He also directly cautioned Gatchalian, saying, "Senator Win, ingat kayo diyan. You're playing around with fire. This is not just about the Senate, this is about the Philippine Constitution."
Cayetano however said that that the scheduled committee hearings would proceed on Thursday, June 4.
"Tomorrow tuloy ang hearing ng Blue Ribbon Committee. I am still the legitimate, legal, moral Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines," Cayetano said. "There is still functioning committees. We have to hear the testimonies, invited po, pati po yung mga gumawa ng illegal ngayon."
"You can try to stop us, but you will be stopping the Filipino people. So sa ating mga kababayan who wants to pray or have a prayer vigil sa Senado bukas, pumunta po kayo. Pag hindi po kami pinapasok, sama-sama na po tayo outside the kulambo," he concluded his video.
This comes after Gatchalian was appointed as acting Senate president pro tempore on Wednesday. While minority senators waited for Cayetano and his bloc to arrive, Senator Francis Escudero from the majority suddenly joined the 11 minority members on the floor, paving the way for the session to convene.
The shakeup then led to major reshuffling of committee leadership, with several senators being appointed to head some of the chamber's most influential panels
